The Thomas More College men’s tennis team went 3-0 this weekend to win the Beren Invitational hosted by Marietta College at the Beren Tennis Complex in Marietta, Ohio.
Thomas More opened the tournament with a 7-2 win over Penn State University – Altoona. The Saints won two doubles matches as the No. 1 tandem of first-year Michael Kenney (Carmel, Ind./Guerin Catholic) and sophomore Derrick Kwok (Sugar Land, Texas/Stephen F. Austin) won 9-8 (7-1) and the No. 2 pair of first-years Sheldon Preisler (San Diego, Calif./Boone County (Ky.)) and Cameron Shi (China/Scott (Ky.)) won 8-1. In singles action, Kwok won 6-2, 6-4 at No. 1, Shi won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 2, Preisler won at No. 3 6-1, 6-1, Kenney won 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4 and first-year Wesley Smith (Versailles, Ky./Woodford County) won 8-5 at No. 6.
The Saints defeated Defiance College 5-4 in the semifinals. Thomas More swept the doubles matches as Kwok and Kenney won 8-4 at No. 1, Preisler and Shi won 8-1 at No. 2 and the No. 3 team of Smith and first-year Logan Daniels (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) won 8-3. In singles action, Preisler won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 3 and sophomore Michael Schwarz (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier) won 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-4).
In the championship match, Thomas More defeated across-the-river rival Mount St. Joseph University, 5-0. Thomas More opened the match with a sweep of the doubles matches as Kwok and Kenney won 8-6 at No. 1, Preisler and Shi won 8-6 at No. 2 and Daniels and Smith won 8-0 at No. 3. Thomas More clinched the championship in singles play as Kwok won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 and Shi won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2.
Thomas More returns to action on Tuesday (March 28) when it travels to Cincinnati, Ohio to play Mount St. Joseph in a non-conference match. The match is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Cory Blackson
Director of Athletic Communications and Compliance
Thomas More College