Elmira Finishes Fourth at ECAC Tournament
Owings Mills, MD -- The Elmira College men's tennis team capped-off one of the most successful seasons in program history with a 5-1 defeat to host institution Stevenson University in the third-place match at the ECAC Men's Tennis Tournament.
The Soaring Eagles were again forced to start today's match in a 2-0 hole due to forfeits at third doubles and sixth singles. That deficit grew to 4-0 after losses at both first and second doubles.
Despite being down to their final point, EC came out fighting in singles as they looked to make their comeback.
Yaniv Kogan'18 made quick work of his opponent at fifth singles, winning 6-1, 6-1, and giving Elmira a fighter's chance. Kogan's victory came at an opportune time as the Soaring Eagles had
Austin Mansell'16 and
Chris Konow'18 up a set at second and third singles, respectively, and
Satchal Waters'16 in a tight first set at first singles.
Waters ended up losing the first set, as did
Patrick Tracey'18 at fourth singles, but both players were staging a rally in their second sets, giving their teammates time to inch closer to victory. Unfortunately, Tracey's comeback bid would come up short as he dropped the second set and ended the match just before Mansell, who had match point, and Konow, who was up 3-1 in the second set, could finish off their victories.
Today's match signals the end of the 2015 season for Elmira men's tennis. The Purple and Gold, after an 8-5 regular season, finish 2015 at 8-8 overall and secured postseason appearances in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament for the first time since 2007 and also the inaugural ECAC Men's Tennis Tournament.
Singles Competition
1. Bryan Gieselman (STE) vs.
Satchal Waters (ELMIRA) 6-4, 5-3, unfinished
2. James Bishoff (STE) vs.
Austin Mansell (ELMIRA) 2-6, 3-5, unfinished
3. Conrad Ellis (STE) vs.
Chris Konow (ELMIRA) 4-6, 1-3, unfinished
4. Peter Hoblitzell (STE) def.
Patrick Tracey (ELMIRA) 6-1, 6-3
5.
Yaniv Kogan (ELMIRA) def. Tony Beres (STE) 6-1, 6-1
6. Nicolas Hooke (STE) def. No player (ELMIRA), by default
Doubles Competition
1. Gieselman/Ellis (STE) def. Waters/Mansell (ELMIRA) 8-4
2. Bishoff/Hoblitzell (STE) def. Tracey/Kogan (ELMIRA) 8-2
3. Beres/Hooke (STE) def. No player/No player (ELMIRA), by default