Box Score ROME, Ga. - Berry began its regular season with a match against home rivals, Shorter University, at the Rome Tennis Center this frigid Saturday afternoon.

After nearly two weeks of indoor practice, the men were excited to play outdoors in what would be three closely contested doubles matches. With the departure of 2 players from last Fall, all of the pairings were new and this led to an early Berry deficit in all matches. Noah Koch and Jake Chapman at first doubles were unfortunately defeated 2-6, but Aiden Benoualid and Jace Good mounted a comeback at second doubles after being down a break to win 7-5. With the matches split, it was up to Bohdan Higley and Leo Nedkov to secure the victory. Despite trailing for the first half of the set, they were able to stabilize and then break serve on the last game to secure a 6-3 victory.

In singles, the men were tasked with an unusual challenge of playing against lefties in first through third singles. Jake Chapman at second singles was able to figure out the winning strategy to defeat his opponent 6-3, 6-1, while Jace Goode at third singles was able to find the key to victory but it was too little, too late, as he was unable to convert on his second set break, losing 2-6, 5-7. Bohdan Higley at sixth singles was a new arrival to the singles lineup, but will continue to settle in and improve in the coming weeks after a 2-6, 3-6 loss. Aiden Benoualid hit his stride in a nearly two hour match but was unable to come away with the win, losing 1-6, 2-6. With Shorter now up 3-2 in match scores, it was up to Leo Nedkov at fifth single and Noah Koch at first singles to carry Berry to the win. Leo made an amazing comeback to enter a third set tiebreak, but fell narrowly losing 3-6, 6-2, 6-7. Noah Koch also rallied from a first set deficit and produced some of the longest points of the day, but was worn down by his opponent in a 3-6, 6-4, 3-6 loss.


Noah Koch and Jake Chapman (BC) fell to Shorter 2-6
Aiden Benoualid and Jace Goode (BC) defeated Shorter 7-5
Bohdan Higley and Leo Nedkov (BC) defeated Shorter 6-3


Noah Koch fell to Shorter 3-6, 6-4, 3-6
Jake Chapman defeated Shorter 6-3, 6-1
Jace Goode fell to Shorter 2-6, 5-7
Aiden Benoualid fell to Shorter 1-6, 2-6
Leo Nedkov fell to Shorter 3-6, 6-2, 6-7(5)
Bohdan Higley fell to Shorter 2-6, 3-6

The coaches were proud of their players' performances, noting that every player did their job and, as this was only the first match of the season, the results will get better. Berry College looks forward to playing Division II Reinhardt University next Friday at the Rome Tennis Center.