HAVERFORD, Pa. – Luis Acaba and Harrison Elbert took down Johns Hopkins' top doubles team Saturday to highlight the match against the No. 11 Blue Jays. However, Johns Hopkins (10-5, 5-0 CC) showed off its national prowess in the other matches during its 8-1 win against the Fords (7-4, 4-2 CC).
Haverford's top pairing of Elbert and Acaba improved to 5-2 overall this spring with today's 8-4 win. That record includes a 4-1 mark together in Centennial Conference matches. The Fords' top pairing has now won three straight matches together this spring.
However, the rest of the doubles action fell the way of the Blue Jays as their No. 7 pairing in the ITA Preseason Poll of Mike Buxbaum and Emerson Walsh tallied an 8-1 win at No. 2, while a regionally-ranked pairing claimed an 8-3 victory in the third slot.
After an exciting doubles victory, Acaba's day came to tough end in singles play when the Fords' No. 1 player was forced to retire due to an injury just three games into his individual match. Elbert took four games off of his opponent at No. 4 singles for the Fords, but fell 6-3, 6-1 in that slot.
Dais Nakayama came the closest to pulling out a set in singles play. Playing his usual No. 2 slot, Nakayama evenly split the first 10 games of his singles match. However, Jeremy Dubin – ranked No. 11 in the Atlantic South Region – took the next two games to claim the opening set to start his straight set win. Haverford also took games in each of the three remaining singles matches.
Men's tennis will now have a week to prepare for its next match and the trip to Franklin & Marshall next Saturday. That match in Lancaster is slated for a noon start.