Elmira Powers Past Purchase in Saturday Night Bout
Score: Elmira College 7, Purchase College 2
Records: Elmira (3-3), Purchase (2-1)
Location: Murray Athletic Center Tennis Dome – Pine Valley, NY
Pine Valley, NY -- It looks like things are starting to come together nicely for the Elmira College men's tennis team, as the Soaring Eagles picked up its second straight win of the weekend with a 7-2 drubbing of non-conference opponent Purchase College. With the win, Elmira improves to 3-3 on the season and 3-1 in home matches.
Doubles continued to be an important factor for the Soaring Eagles, as the Elmira men won two-of-three doubles points.
Yu Ikeda '16 and
Yaniv Kogan '18 showcased their class today with a no-nonsense 8-1 win at the third spot. The Panthers evened things up at 1-1 with an 8-6 win at first doubles; however, Elmira's second doubles tandem of
Austin Mansell '16 and
Chris Konow '18 prevailed by a single break, 8-5.
One thing that has become apparent through the early stages of the 2015-16 season is that when the Soaring Eagles take a lead heading into singles, they refuse to relinquish it. This trend continued tonight, as the Purple and Gold powered past the Panthers in singles, winning five-of-six matches.
Patrick Tracey '18 kicked-off singles action with a speedy 6-1, 6-0 win at fourth singles. Mansell followed suit at the third spot, dropping five games en route to a 6-1, 6-4 victory, which gave Elmira a 4-1 lead in the match.
The Panthers got on the scoreboard with a straight set win at first singles. Elmira's 4-2 lead quickly turned to 5-2, as
Satchal Waters '16 clinched the match for the Soaring Eagles with a 7-5, 6-2 win at the second spot.
With the match already decided, EC's fifth and sixth singles players took to the court. Kogan was the first player to finish, as he dropped just one game en route to a 6-1, 6-0 win at the sixth spot. Kogan finished the day winning 20-of-22 games played in singles and doubles.
Konow wrapped up today's play with a 6-4, 6-2 win at fifth singles, as the second-year talent put an exclamation point on today's 7-2 victory.
In His Own Words…
Coach
Tom Linhart shares his thoughts on how his team performed today…
"Today was another great showing for us. We again played a very focused complete match against another strong team in Purchase. I am very impressed with this group and look forward to what we can do this year."
Coach Linhart shares his thoughts on what the key factor was in today's victory…
"There were really two key factors in today's win. First, we came out and battled in doubles to take the lead. Our guys' mental toughness was on par tonight and showed in our ability to close out singles."
Coach Linhart describes why his team has been so good at home this season…
"It's a unique facility that most teams have never experienced and secondly, our guys refuse to lose there. It really shows in how the guys compete because they just refuse to lose. It is most certainly a welcomed home court advantage."
Turning Point
Elmira's superiority in singles today was the ultimate deciding factor, as EC won five-of-six matches. All five matches were decided in straight sets.
Match Recap
- Elmira won two of the three doubles matches.
- Purchase claimed an 8-6 win at first doubles.
- Mansell and Konow teamed up for a tight 8-5 win at the second spot.
- Ikeda and Kogan rolled at the third spot, claiming an 8-1 victory.
- EC earned wins in five-of-six singles matches.
- Ikeda dropped another close one at first singles, falling 6-2, 6-3.
- Waters was a 7-5, 6-2 winner at the second spot, which clinched the win for EC.
- Mansell continued his superb play with a 6-1, 6-4 victory at third singles.
- Tracey steamrolled his opponent at the fourth spot, dropping just one game in a 6-1, 6-0 win.
- Konow pulled out a close first set, before rolling in the second for a 6-4, 6-2 win at the fifth spot.
- At sixth singles, Kogan dropped just one game en route to a dominant 6-1, 6-0 win.
News and Notes
- Elmira evens its overall record on the year to 3-3 and 2-1 against Division III teams.
- Elmira is also 3-1 in home matches this season.
- The Soaring Eagles are starting to find their groove, as EC has won two in a row.
- EC won two-of-three doubles matches for a third time this season, all resulting in Elmira wins.
- Kogan finished the day winning 20-of-22 games played in singles and doubles.
- Mansell moved into sole possession of third place in program history for career doubles wins (23).
Scores
Singles
1. Damerell, Riley (PUR) def.
Yu Ikeda (ELMIRA) 6-2, 6-3
2.
Satchal Waters (ELMIRA) def. Troop, Joseph (PUR) 7-5, 6-2
3.
Austin Mansell (ELMIRA) def. De La Cruz, Danny (PUR) 6-1, 6-4
4.
Patrick Tracey (ELMIRA) def. Marthaller, Noah (PUR) 6-1, 6-0
5.
Chris Konow (ELMIRA) def. Stuart, Finbar (PUR) 6-4, 6-2
6.
Yaniv Kogan (ELMIRA) def. Lee, Isaac (PUR) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles
1. Damerell/Troop (PUR) def. Waters/Tracey (ELMIRA) 8-6
2. Mansell/Konow (ELMIRA) def. Marthaller/De La Cruz (PUR) 8-5
3. Ikeda/Kogan (ELMIRA) def. Stuart/Lee (PUR) 8-1
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles conclude play at the Elmira College Spring Kickoff Invitational tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. with a non-conference meeting with Alfred University.