Eagles Fall In Close Senior Day Match
Crystal Lake,IL- The Judson University men's tennis team came up just short in a 4-3 Senior Day battle against conference foe Olivet Nazarene, marking the final home appearance for senior standout Chadd Kerrigan. The Eagles claimed three singles victories but couldn't overcome ONU's sweep of the doubles matches in the tightly contested affair.
Kerrigan delivered a signature performance at No. 1 singles, defeating Chatton Haws 6-4, 6-4 in a match that highlighted his aggressive gameplay and competitive fire. The four-year veteran's victory set the tone for Judson's strong singles showing.
Nicolas Donoso provided the day's most dramatic moment at No. 2 singles, rallying from a set down to defeat Paul Saleh 2-6, 6-2, 11-9 in a match featuring multiple momentum swings. Javier Sanchez added a straight-sets win at No. 5 singles, while Joshua Bavich pushed his opponent to the limit before falling in a third-set tiebreaker at No. 3.
ONU secured the crucial doubles point with victories at all three positions, though Judson's top pair of Kerrigan and Bavich extended their match to a tiebreaker before falling 7-6. The visitors also claimed wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to establish an early advantage.
Despite the tough loss, the Eagles had still reason to celebrate as Joshua Bavich got named CCAC Conference Player of the Week shortly after the loss.
The match marked the final regular season home appearance for Kerrigan, who has anchored Judson's lineup throughout his collegiate career. With the conference tournament approaching, the Eagles will look to build on their competitive performance against one of the league's top teams. Next up, Judson will travel to Joliet on Saturday in their last regular season match, to take on St Francis University.