Eagles' Run in NAIA Postseason Cut Short

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

Photo Courtesy of Tom Grason

MOBILE, Ala. – The Bulldogs of Tennessee Wesleyan put a bow on the Eagle men's tennis season on Thursday, as the fellow league opponent took down Reinhardt in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Men's Tennis National Championship, 4-0, earlier today.

The hometown club finishes 2021 at 10-4, three of the losses coming at the hands of the third-ranked Bulldogs. The other defeat was a hard-fought 4-3 matchup with No. 1 Georgia Gwinnett – and the Grizzlies will now take on Tennessee Wesleyan in the NAIA National Championship Semifinals.

Doubles play provided non-stop action as the top spot was taken care of by the duo of Artem Vasheshnikova/Martin Mendoza in a 7-5 final score. The Bulldogs, however, fought back and took No. 2 doubles, 6-4, before escaping on line three, 7-6, for the early lead.

Reinhardt would also fall in No. 1 singles (7-5, 6-1), No. 3 singles (7-6, 6-4) and No. 4 singles (6-1, 6-2).

Not to be outdone, however, Eagles were fighting their way back on the other Mobile courts as Mendoza, Pau Pujadas and Masumi Komada weren't backing down to their opposition when the match was called.

The team looks to reload and return to postseason play in 2022 as a premiere tennis brand in the NAIA. 

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For more information on Reinhardt Men's Tennis, please click here.