(AP) -- Both Truman Tennis teams found themselves in a tight battle with William Jewell College (Mo.) on Wednesday in their season opening dual match.
The men edged out a 5-4 victory while the women fell by the same 5-4 score.
The Bulldog men battled to two close victories in the top two doubles matches to open the dual match against the Cardinals.
Junior Eric McCollough and freshman Joseph Stuhlmann took a 9-7 decision in the top doubles match while two more freshmen, Adam King and Kirk Schlueter won 9-8 (8-6) to take the second doubles match.
In singles, McCollough needed three sets to defeat Kyle Taylor (-3, 3-6, -3) in the number one singles spot but the epic match occurred at number four.
Freshman Mike Merchant defeated Kyle Lehenbauer 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) in what proved to be the dual clincher.
Sophomore Jon Gooch was also a straight set winner in the number six singles spot.
The women fell behind 2-1 after the three doubles matches with the only point coming from sophomore Maggi Schutte and freshman Jessica Gennuso. All three doubles matches finished with 8-5 scores.
Juniors Ellen Russell, Kelsey Kuykendall and Dagmar Velez won their singles matches with Russel surviving a three-set match for the win. Kuykendall and Velez each won in straight sets.
However, the Cardinals got straight set wins at number one, two and six singles matches to hold on for the victory.
Courtesy Truman State University
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