Hilton Head, South Carolina – The Oberlin College men's tennis team played their second match of the spring break trip against Augustana on Tuesday afternoon. Despite near 20-mile-per-hour gusts making for less than optimal conditions, the Crimson and Gold persevered against the Augustana Vikings and dominated today's match with a 7-0 sweep. With another spring break victory, the Yeomen's record rises to 8-3. 

Each doubles team tackled the strong winds with their own unique play styles today. Senior Sebastien Naginski and first-year Dash Smith played at No. 3 doubles as both lefties sent forehands spinning over and through their opponents' defenses in a 6-2 victory. At No. 2 doubles, Zain Makada and Enrique Margain stuck to their strengths, using power at the baseline and touch at the net to secure a 6-3 win. The No. 1 doubles team of Shawn Lisann and Cameron Weiss faced more difficulties in their match. Their usual energy and fast-paced net plays were dampened by the wind, along with some skillful plays by their opponents, turning a 3-1 lead by Lisann and Weiss to a 7-6 (7-3) loss. 

Leading off in singles play, Weiss immediately went to work at No. 5, ending his match first in a speedy 6-1, 6-1 victory. Makada soon followed at No. 3, showing great patience and caution in the windy conditions before making his move, winning 6-4, 6-3. 

With the team leading 3-0, Margain finished less than ten minutes after Makada on court four. Taking the victory for Oberlin at No. 3, the sophomore secured his first career clinch for the team. Lisann ran into some more difficulties in his singles match, dropping the second set 6-3 after leading 6-0, 3-2. The senior quickly course-corrected and took a well-earned 10-6 tiebreaker, winning his match at No. 2.

Slugging away on court six, Naginski's disciplined game steadily chipped away at his opponent, culminating in a 6-3, 6-3 win. On court one, Smith had also been in a similarly slow and difficult battle. His opponent, Jorge Marcelo Escribano, played a difficult game in the wind, keeping Smith from finding a comfortable pace. Though down 6-4, the rookie was able to make a comeback in the second set and continue the momentum into the tiebreak, smashing forehands and ending with an overhead that won the match 4-6, 6-4, 10-6. 

When asked how he made the comeback, Smith said, "I just told myself I could do it, and I told myself that I've trained really hard and worked on playing players like that. Even though the wind threw me off, I started to get used to it and [used] it to win." 

Celebrating a year of playing together at No. 2 doubles, Makada and Margain capitalized on their consistent cooperation to seal the doubles point. "It feels really good to be back. Enrique and I work really well together. To play during spring break is when we started last year as well, so I'm really excited to get back on track where we were and continue the season," Makada said

Margain added, "Yeah, Zain makes it pretty easy with those big serves. We communicate super well and we get along very well outside of the court. He's one of my best friends, so I think that translates to the court [too]."

Oberlin returns to action tomorrow, Wednesday, March 25 in their final match of the Hilton Head series. Taking on Carlton, the Yeomen kick off at 12:30 p.m. 

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