Ithaca Records Sixth Straight Victory
ITHACA, N.Y. —The Ithaca College men's tennis team extended its winning streak to six with an 8-1 win over Utica College Sunday afternoon at the Wheeler Tennis Courts.
Ithaca (10-5, 6-1 Empire 8) posted wins in five of the six singles matches and won all three doubles matches against the Pioneers (1-9, 0-7) E8). With the win, Ithaca remains in second place in the Empire 8 Conference, half a game behind Stevens Institute of Technology (13-7, 6-0 E8) for first-place in the conference.
The Bombers have advanced to the Empire 8 championship match in each of the last 13 seasons, with IC emerging with five league championships during that span.
Junior
Charlie Vaca posted his first singles win of the year with a 6-1, 6-4 triumph at the second flight. Three other student-athletes, sophomore
Ricardo Palau and freshmen
Mihir Siddartha and
Ben Sharpe, posted the first singles wins of their careers. Siddartha recorded a 6-0, 6-0 win at the fourth flight, Palau earned a 6-2, 6-0 win at the fifth flight, and Sharpe recording a 6-0, 6-1 triumph at the sixth flight.
In other singles action: freshman
Stefan Lazarevic earned a 6-1, 6-3 win at the first flight, while freshman
Ethan Longenecker dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision at the fourth flight.
Sharpe, Siddartha, Longenecker, and sophomore
Grant Nassif each picked up the first wins of their doubles careers vs. Utica.
Lazarevic and Vaca teamed up for an 8-4 win at the first flight, Siddartha and Longenecker posted an 8-3 win at the second flight, and Sharpe and Nassif were victorious by an 8-1 score at the third flight.
The Bombers close out the regular-season hosting Elmira College at noon on Saturday, and Connecticut College at 2 p.m. Sunday on Senior Day at the Wheeler Tennis Courts.
Chris Hayes, IC's lone senior, will be honored for his hard work and dedication to the men's tennis team.
Results vs. Utica (Ithaca won 8-1)