Elmira Back On Track With 9-0 Win Over D’Youville
Score: Elmira College 9, D'Youville College 0
Records: Elmira (5-4), D'Youville (0-5)
Location: Murray Athletic Center Tennis Dome – Pine Valley, NY
Pine Valley, NY -- Home court advantage is a real thing, just ask the Elmira College men's tennis team. The Soaring Eagles improved to 5-1 at the Murray Athletic Center this season, and 5-4 on the 2015-16 campaign, following today's 9-0 sweep of D'Youville College.
Similar to its other wins this season, Elmira used a strong performance in doubles to set the tone early in this evening's contest. Elmira swept the doubles matches, winning 24-of-30 games played in the process to take a 3-0 lead.
EC's third doubles tandem of
Yu Ikeda '16 and
Yaniv Kogan '18 put the first point on the board, and did so in dominant fashion, as the duo produced an 8-0 victory.
Austin Mansell '16 and
Chris Konow '18 followed suit at the second spot with an 8-2 win, before EC's first doubles team of
Satchal Waters '16 and
Patrick Tracey '18 closed out doubles action with an 8-4 triumph.
The Spartans of D'Youville were hoping to turn things around in singles, but Elmira refused to let its big lead slip away. Mansell was the first Soaring Eagle to finish in singles, as the fourth-year talent claimed a straight set win at the third spot, 6-0, 6-0.
Ahead 4-0, EC needed just one more victory to clinch the match and the Soaring Eagles received that win from Tracey at the fourth spot, who also won by a 6-0, 6-0 score line. Waters was the next player to finish, as he picked up a 6-2, 6-0 win at the second position to increase the lead to 6-0.
Elmira wins continued to come in, as Konow and Kogan both cruised to a pair of 6-0, 6-0 wins at the fifth and sixth spots, receptively.
The first singles match of the day would be the last one to finish, but the result was most certainly worth the wait. First-year Soaring Eagle Ikeda pulled out a tight first set by a single break, but dominated in the second set for a 7-5, 6-1 victory at first singles. The win for Ikeda was the first singles victory of his collegiate career, which capped Elmira's fifth win of the year.
Turning Point
Today's win was your quintessential all-around performance from Elmira, as the Soaring Eagles excelled in nearly every facet of the match. If there was one area Elmira did better at than others, it was EC's superb play in singles; Elmira won 73-of-81 games played.
Match Recap
- Elmira swept the doubles matches, dropping just six games in the process.
- Waters and Tracey prevailed at first doubles, 8-4.
- Mansell and Konow dropped just two games at second doubles for an 8-2 win.
- Ikeda and Kogan rolled at the third spot with a flawless 8-0 victory.
- Singles play was also dominated by Elmira, who won all six matches.
- Ikeda picked up a 7-5, 6-1 win at the first spot.
- Waters was a 6-2, 6-0 winner at second singles.
- EC picked up 6-0, 6-0 wins from Mansell, Tracey, Konow, and Kogan at spots third through sixth.
- Tracey clinched the match at fourth singles.
- Kogan won every game he played today (20).
News and Notes
- Elmira improved to 5-4 this season, including a 5-1 mark at the Murray Athletic Center.
- Today's sweep is Elmira's first 9-0 win of the season.
- Kogan's record today was unblemished in singles and doubles, as he won 20-of-20 games played.
- Ikeda picked up his first singles win as a Soaring Eagle.
- Each Elmira player won two matches this evening.
- Waters sits on 57 career wins, just one shy of tying the EC program record.
- Konow moved into sole possession of 10th place in EC history for career wins (25).
Up Next
Elmira will have less than 24 hours to enjoy today's win, as the Soaring Eagles return to action tomorrow afternoon against Oswego State. Tomorrow's non-conference match with the Lakers is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Murray Athletic Center Tennis Dome.