Photo: KWC Athletics

NEW ALBANY, IN — Kentucky Wesleyan opened its fall tennis season Sunday with a pair of victories over IU Southeast, as the Panther men cruised to a 7-0 sweep and the women rallied for a 4-3 win.

The men made quick work of the Grenadiers, taking the doubles point before sweeping all six singles matches.

Daniel Lang and Moe Mokete started doubles play with a 6-1 win, while Kade Eber and Pon Van Vessem followed with a 6-3 victory to secure the point.

Kentucky Wesleyan carried that momentum into singles.

Mokete picked up a 6-2, 6-1 win, followed by Cam Middleton, Daniel Lang, Nick Lenz, Marcos Tiferes and Jose Ferrandis. Ferrandis closed out the sweep with a 6-3, 6-3 victory.

The women’s match was a much different story.

After splitting the first three singles matches and falling behind 2-1, Kentucky Wesleyan needed to find a way to finish the match strong.

The Panthers had already taken two of three doubles matches, with Kiley DeMoss and Manon Girard winning 6-1 and Leila Hani and Maddie Meyer earning a 6-3 victory.

IU Southeast then grabbed the first two singles points, but Kentucky Wesleyan answered with wins from DeMoss and Hani to even the match at 2-2.

Libby Banet put the Grenadiers back in front by defeating Girard 7-5, 7-6, leaving the match dependent on the final singles contest.

Jeanine Sharp delivered.

After dropping the first set to Sidney Burton 7-5, Sharp battled back to win the next two sets 6-3, 7-5, giving Kentucky Wesleyan the 4-3 team victory.

The two wins give both Panther programs a strong start to the fall season.

SNAPSHOT

MEN’S FINAL
Kentucky Wesleyan 7, IU Southeast 0

WOMEN’S FINAL
Kentucky Wesleyan 4, IU Southeast 3

WOMEN’S COMEBACK
KWC trailed 2-1 after the first three singles matches before winning the final three singles matches to secure the team victory.

NEXT UP — MEN’S TENNIS
Missouri Baptist — Sept. 16, 2 p.m.
Kentucky Wesleyan — Home Opener

NEXT UP — BOTH TEAMS
Centre — Sept. 19, 11 a.m. CT
Centre College