Hilton Head Island, SC—Despite losing a couple matches early on in GRCC's men's tennis' annual spring trip, the Raiders are gettting into rhythm winning two of their last three matches. 

The Raiders began their spring competition in Williamsburg KY and were met with strong competition from the University of the Cumberlands.  Dropping the match 7-2, the lone winners were Keith Lannon and Casey Feenstra at 3rd doubles and Andrew Amante at #6 singles.  Following the loss, the Raiders continued their journey south to Hilton Head Island that night in preparation for the week’s games.
 
In GRCC’s first match in South Carolina the Raiders lost 6-3 to the University of South Carolina Lancaster CC—both team’s first clay court matches of the year—after taking an early lead in the doubles 2-1.  GRCC's lone winner in singles was Andrew Amante at #6 singles.  Lancaster finished #24 in the nation at last spring's national championship but expects to finish in the top 20 in 2012. 
 
 The following day all nine Raider netters contributed to a big 9-0 victory against Malone University (OH).  Keith Lannon came from behind to defeat Malone's Nate Davis at #1 singles, 2-6, 7-5, 12-10.
 
The momentum from the previous day’s win carried the Raiders to another victory during the first match of their double header against Eastern Nazarene as they rolled 8-1. 
 
GRCC got off to a fine start by sweeping the doubles portion of that match taking a 3-0 lead heading into the singles.  Two of the doubles went into the tie-breaker where the Raiders won both matches.
 
Later that day day, in spite of the quick start where the Raiders got off to with a 2-1 lead in the doubles, Walsh University took 5 of the 6 singles matches to take the victory 6-3.  GRCC's lone singles victory came fromBen Esh-Nauta at #3 singles.  Ben won all four matches on the day. 
 
Andrew Amante lost his first singles match of the trip moving up to #4 singles, Amante now stands at 4-1 in singles.  The doubles team of Keith Lannon and Casey Feenstra also lost their first match and stand at 4-1 for the trip.  Clayton Hodge has a 4-1 mark in doubles teaming with both Andrew Amante and Matt Jackson.
 
Today the Raiders face the Eagles of Northwestern College (MN) at 11:00AM.  The Eagles are 2-3 in 2012 following yesterday’s 7-2 win over Malone University.