CEDAR RAPIDS — The Central College men's tennis team came up one match short in a 5-4 loss to Coe College in the American Rivers Conference semifinal Thursday night.
           
The Kohawks (16-9) advance to Saturday's conference tournament final at Luther College, the regular season champions.
           
Coe beat Central (12-11) 5-1 on Saturday in Pella but the Dutch almost reversed that result.

"This match was a matter of inches," coach Ryun Ferrell said. "It was super tight and it came down to the last match. We had chances all over the place and it just didn't go our way."
           
Seniors Trey Melvin (senior, Lawrence, Kan., Free State HS) and Matthew Den Adel (senior, Ankeny, Centennial HS) put it all on the line to try and reach the American Rivers Conference tournament final, compiling three of Central's four points. The pair won their No. 2 doubles match 8-4. Melvin avenged his loss at No. 1 singles from last Saturday by winning 6-4, 6-3 against Jordan Oaks. Den Adel won 6-2 6-1 at No. 6 singles.
           
"They played so well," Ferrell said. "They were in control of their doubles match from the beginning. Trey was a man possessed. He was a mission to win and he took him down."

AJ Wilkins (sophomore, Grinnell) won 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 3 singles spot. He also avenged a previous loss in his match.

"The last time AJ played him was inside at our house a week ago and he beat AJ pretty soundly," Ferrell said. "It became a really physical match being outdoors and AJ's athleticism really showed."
           
Central loses three seniors from its starting line up in Melvin, Den Adel and Caleb Hamerlinck (Huxley, Ballard HS) but Ferrell believes this team can make another step forward next year.

"We've still got some players coming back that know what we've been through and where we are trying to go," Ferrell said. "We have a lot of talent coming in to go with some good returners. The future looks bright."