The men’s tennis team continued its winning streak with victories in its last two matches. The first of these matches was played on March 1 as the men faced off against Mount Union. Doubles competition started off with juniors Chris Pray and Colin Burling as they ripped it up at the first position, coming away with the first win at 8-1. Sophomore David Midler and junior Ezra Goldman followed in the second doubles and played a closer match. Their teamwork and accuracy earned them the win at 8-5. Senior Arthur Zeyda and junior Thomas Page played as the third doubles pair, but were unable to come up with a win, losing 4-8.

Pray started off the singles competition with a high-energy match playing at first singles. Both players came out firing, but thanks to a few key aces and powerful shots, Pray came out with an easy 6-1 win in the first set. Union didn’t give up in the second set, gaining the early lead. But after several rough exchanges, Pray came back on top for the win at 7-5, winning the match. Midler played second doubles, starting off strong with an early lead and ending the first set in a shut-out, in tennis known as a bagel, 6-0. Midler stayed strong in the second and didn’t let up, finishing the set 6-0, his second bagel and an Oberlin win.

Zeyda continued the momentum at the number three singles, an early lead giving him a first set win by a score of 6-3. Union came back in the second set midway through, ending in second set loss for Zeyda, 6-7. Zeyda returned with a vengeance, gaining a bagel in the third, giving him a victory and Oberlin a fifth win of the match.

The fourth match of singles was played by Goldman, who got roughed up in the first set, as a few missed shots contributed to a first set loss with a score of 4-6. He tried to regain some momentum in the second but was unfortunately outmatched, losing 2-6.

The five spot went to Burling, who also had a rough time. Losing the first set 3-6, he fought hard to win the second as he brought it into a tie-breaker. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to pull through, losing the set 6-7. Page ended as the number six singles, but like Burling, lost in straight sets of 6-2. Oberlin came out with the tight win of 5-4.

The Yeomen’s next opponent was Ohio Wesleyan University on March 3, a North Coast Athletic Conference match. The doubles portion of the bill started off with an intense match at the pole position with Pray and Burling. Though starting out with an early lead, OWU got in close and tried to take the game. After a several exchanges of hard shots and ridiculous counters, Oberlin came out on top with an 8-5 win.

Midler and Goldman played at the two spot, and showed authority as they jumped off to a commanding 5-0 lead. Though OWU tried to make a comeback, they were denied much hope of victory by Midler and Goldman’s teamwork. Oberlin gained the win at 8-3.

Zeyda and Page played the three again and dominated it outright. They gave no chance to OWU and made quick work of them for the win at 8-0, bagel number one of the match.

Singles proved to be just as one-sided as the men ran OWU out of the building. Pray began with a great match as the first singles participant for the Yeomen. Strategy and precision made this match as OWU brought a strong game. Pray’s tactics earned him the first set at 6-3, while the second set, though seemingly more grueling, went to Pray at 6-1.

Midler did not seem to have much trouble as he dominated both sets for the double bagel win of 6-0, 6-0, his second of his last two matches. Zeyda came into the match riding the momentum from his doubles victory as the Yeoman’s number three singles player. Strong serves and power shots won him the first set 6-1, followed by a closer second set where he won 6-4, giving him the match in straight sets.

Goldman had the fourth spot and played hard, dominating his first and second sets for the win of 6-1, 6-2. Fifth in the string of great matches was Burling, giving a great performance. He was definitely more focused than he was against Mt. Union and it showed, as he won with ease and gained the fourth and fifth bagels of the match, 6-0, 6-0.

Page ended the match at the six and drove the last nail in OWU’s coffin, coming out with the bagel and breadstick of 6-0, 6-1. When asked about the match, Goldman replied, “We came ready to play, they came something short of sleeping.” Final score: 9-0, a clean sweep for Oberlin.

They go on to face Ohio Dominican on Saturday.