The Tigers went one and one against two difficult opponents as they finished the regular season this past weekend.
DePauw started out the weekend with a match against the 17th ranked Washington St. Louis University Bears (13-5), falling to them 8-1.
The lone win for the Tigers (15-7) was in doubles with the duo of senior Eric Hubbard and junior David Moss, who defeated Bears freshman Ross Putterman and junior Adam Putterman 8-3 in the number one doubles slot.
At the second doubles slot, junior Reid Garlock and senior captain Michael Rardon lost a close match to Kareem Farah and Parker Chang 9-8 (7-5).
DePauw was swept in singles play, with all in straight sets except freshman Chris Bertolini who fell to Ross Putterman at third singles 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (12-10).
DePauw closed out Norh Coast Athletic Conference regular season play Sunday, as it defeated Denison (13-4) 6-3. Senior Michael Rardon was very happy getting a win before the conference tourney.
"It's a huge confidence booster for us," Rardon said. "With the win we will likely be a two seed and they will be the three seed."
DePauw opened up a 2-1 lead heading into singles play from wins from the first and third doubles slots. Hubbard and Moss defeated Matt McEriean and Tyler Cempre 8-6 at first doubles, and sophomores of Sam Miles and Philip Jackley defeated Juan Guerra and Grant Veltman 8-4 at third doubles.
DePauw clinched the victory by winning 4 out of 6 singles matches, two of the wins in three set matches.
Moss and Rardon both fought out three set matches to gain the victory. Rardon defeated Matt McErlean 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, and Moss defeated Tyler Cempre 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
With the win over Denison, DePauw held an undefeated NCAC regular season record at 3-0.
DePauw now looks to its first ever NCAC conference Championship at Kenyon College (Gambier, Ohio) on April 28-29, hoping to win its first NCAC title. One boost for the team will be the return of sophomore Ben Kopecky, who has missed the last two weeks with a shoulder injury. Miles, who has always played doubles with Kopecky, is excited for his return.
"Obviously, it's going to help us to get Kopecky back," Miles explained. "It just makes our team deeper. I've been playing with him throughout college and so I'm real comfortable with him. We feel if we play well, we're capable of beating everybody. Our whole season really revolves around this weekend because we really have to win conference to make the tournament."
Rardon is confident in the team's play heading into the tournament.
"The biggest thing for everyone is to play to win and be extremely focused," Rardon said. "We are really peaking in our play and we'd love to win the championship and make it to the NCAA championships."