Cougars swept despite trio of close matches

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Almost every match proved to be a dogfight.

Three matches went over the two-hour mark — all to three sets — at Trinity Lutheran on Monday. Unfortunately for the Cougars, none of them went their way.

Trinity fell to sectional foe Austin 5-0 on the Cougars’ courts.

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At No. 2 doubles, Avery Schwipps and Noah Voelker dropped the opening set to Jalen Hines and Caleb Weaver 6-1.

After claiming the second set 7-5, the Eagles’ duo took the third set 6-2 in what would be a 2.5 hours match.

In No. 2 singles action, Trinity’s Bailey Baker won the opening set 6-3 before dropping the next two 6-2, 6-2 to Joseph Smith.

The other three-setter, which lasted about as long as the No. 2 doubles match, was at No. 3 singles.

Matt Stuckwisch and Gavin Parker traded the first two sets at 6-2 before playing a tiebreaker for the third.

Parker outlasted Stuckwisch 8-6 for the match.

The Eagles’ No. 1 doubles team of Cameron McNeely and Chris Thomas picked up a 6-2, 6-1 and Trevor Johnson beat Jace Crockett 6-1, 6-2 at No. 1 singles.

Cougars coach Mark Voss felt the team was outmatched at just one position.

“At No. 1 singles we were beaten, plain and simple, their guy was a better player,” He said. “Any of the others, we either beat ourselves or didn’t play well enough to win. That weren’t that much above us in talent level.”

Despite the blank, Voss said the match could have gone in favor of the Cougars.

“This could have been 3-2, either way,” Voss aid. “We had our opportunity. That’s what I told the boys on the court.”

Moving forward, Voss wants to see more grit and mental focus in matches.

“We need consistency,” Voss said. “We need to cut down our errors and play the point to win instead of not to lose.”

With the loss, the Cougars dropped to 1-10 for the 2017 season. They will host Edinburgh tonight.

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