Saints Dominate #6 Collin/#14 Jacksonville in OKC
Maybe their first loss of the 2015 season is just what the #3 Seward County Saints needed to refocus themselves as after a loss to Jayhawk rival Cowley six days ago, Seward responded in a big way, blanking #14 Jacksonville 9-0 before drilling #6 Collin County 8-1 to wrap up a nearly perfect day one of the Seminole State Dual Match Classic in Oklahoma City Friday.
Coming off of their first defeat of the season, the Saints were focused early on against #14 Jacksonville Friday afternoon in Oklahoma City. The Saints swept doubles action as 7th ranked Ronzai Saurombe and Vitor Galvao won 8-3 at #1, Felipe Casares and Alvaro Regnifo won 8-2 at #3 and Tare Mariga and Paul Arslanian blanked the Jags at #3 8-0. Seward's control of the match continue in singles play there Arslanian won 6-0, 6-0 at #6 and Mariga dominated at #5 6-1, 6-0 to clinch the match for the Saints. Casares also had no problem at #4, winning 6-1, 6-1 and Galvao did the same at #2 to put the Saints up 7-0. Renifo won in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 at #3 and coming from behind in #1 singles, 10th ranked Saurombe knocked off 20th ranked Anru Fourie of Jacksonville 6-7 (4), 6-1, 10-6 to complete the sweep for the Saints.
#3 SEWARD COUNTY/#14 JACKSONVILLE MATCH RESULTS
The Saints knew they would have to step up their game in their second match of the day as they took on 6th ranked and perennial NJCAA power Collin County. The Saints did just that as Saurombe and Galvao put on a clinic at #1 doubles, winning 8-1 while Mariga and Arslanian fought until the end in a 9-8 (5) battle at #3 to give the Saints a 2-1 lead. The Saints were simply put, untouchable, in singles play. Saurombe got the scoring going for Seward, winning 6-2, 6-4 at #1 while 14th ranked Galvao won 7-5, 6-2 in straight sets over #44 Jack Reiss at #2 to put Seward on top 4-1. Regnifo won by matching 6-4 scores at #3 and 31st ranked Casares easily handled Zach Pitman of Collin 6-1, 6-2 at #4. The most competitive match of the day came at #5 where Mariga won a third set tiebreak 10-5 to keep the Saints perfect in singles action and Arslanian wrapped up the singles sweep with a 6-2, 6-1 win at #6 to give the Saints a dominating 8-1 win over the Cougars.
#3 SEWARD COUNTY/#6 COLLIN COUNTY MATCH RESULTS
The Saints continue their big 2015 season, improving to 8-1 on the year with the two victories. Seward will once again need to be on top of their game Saturday as they return to the courts for battles with #2 Tyler and #7 Seminole State to wrap up the tournament.