Elmira Sets Program Record for Single-Season Wins
Score: Elmira College 9, Hartwick College 0
Records: Elmira (9-8, 3-3 E8), Hartwick (1-7, 1-5 E8)
Location: Murray Athletic Center Tennis Dome – Pine Valley, NY
Pine Valley, NY -- Those in attendance at this afternoon's Elmira College men's tennis match against Hartwick College were lucky enough to experience history on the courts at the Murray Athletic Center Tennis Dome. The Soaring Eagles powered past the Hawks by a 9-0 final, giving Elmira its program record-setting ninth win of the season, the most EC has registered in over 16 years.
Elmira used a strong performance in doubles to set the tone for the rest of the match, as the Soaring Eagles swept the doubles points. All three matches were rather routine for the EC men, who dropped just seven of the 31 games played this afternoon.
Satchal Waters '16 and
Austin Mansell '16 were 8-2 winners at first doubles, while
Yaniv Kogan '18 and
Chris Konow '18 rolled to an 8-1 win at the second spot. EC's newly formed third doubles team of
Patrick Tracey '18 and
Jordan Curtis '19 had a tougher time than the other two teams, but would still walk away with a convincing 8-4 victory.
Singles action was also controlled by the Soaring Eagles, as Elmira won all six matches in straight sets. At first singles, Waters found himself in an early 2-1 hole in the first set. However, the savvy senior turned things up a notch from there on out and went on to win 11 straight games en route to a 6-2, 6-0 victory.
Shortly after Waters won his match, Tracey followed suit with a clinical 6-0, 6-0 performance at the third spot, which clinched the win for Elmira. For Tracey, the win pushed his single-season total to 12.
In one of the more competitive matches of the day, Elmira saw Mansell outlast his opponent at the second singles position for a 6-4, 6-3 win. His opponent, John Talbot, did not make things easy with an array of booming serves and forehands that gave him a 4-3 lead in the first set. However, Mansell's versatility and net play ended up being the difference, as the West Lebanon, NH, native went on to pick up his 12th win of the year.
Another competitive match broke out on court four, as Konow found himself in a tight one at fourth singles. He claimed early leads in both sets, and despite a surge in play from his opponent late in both sets, Konow was able to hold on to top his Hartwick foe by a 6-4, 6-4 final.
Curtis was EC's next player to finish, as the rookie from Wolcott, NY, rolled to a 6-0, 6-1 win at the No. 6 spot. Playing in just his fourth dual match of the season, Curtis looked like a seasoned veteran with his consistency from the baseline, mixing it up nicely with heavy topspin and high loopy shots that fell deep in the court.
Kogan played in the final match of the day at fifth singles, one that ended in a 6-0, 6-2 victory for the second-year standout. Kogan quite possibly played his best tennis of the year this afternoon with an impressive all-court performance that saw the native of Israel dominate from all areas of the court.
In His Own Words…
Head Coach
Tom Linhart shares his thoughts on his team's performance today…
"It was nice to get back some momentum today. I thought we really stepped up as an entire team and have put ourselves in a good position to finish the season strong."
Coach Linhart talks briefly about what he thought the difference was in today's win…
"The big difference for us today was the intensity and us playing at home. There is something about these guys, who just don't give up much at the domes and it showed with how hard we compete."
Coach Linhart talks about earning program-setting win number nine…
"It has been a great year for us as a group to set not only a lot of individual records, but to also set this record as a team. It is also a great honor for our seniors, who have really made this a solid program over their four years."
Scores
Singles
1.
Satchal Waters (ELMIRA) def. Krishna Patel (HARTWICK) 6-2, 6-0
2.
Austin Mansell (ELMIRA) def. John Talbot (HARTWICK) 6-4, 6-3
3.
Patrick Tracey (ELMIRA) def. Liam Brown (HARTWICK) 6-0, 6-0
4.
Chris Konow (ELMIRA) def. Heidi Rice (HARTWICK) 6-4, 6-4
5.
Yaniv Kogan (ELMIRA) def. Ross Braue (HARTWICK) 6-0, 6-2
6.
Jordan Curtis (ELMIRA) def. Rose Natoli (HARTWICK) 6-0, 6-1
Doubles
1. Waters/Mansell (ELMIRA) def. Talbot/Patel (HARTWICK) 8-2
2. Konow/Kogan (ELMIRA) def. Brown/Braue (HARTWICK) 8-1
3. Tracey/Curtis (ELMIRA) def. Rice/Natoli (HARTWICK) 8-4
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,3,2,4,6,5)
Match-Clinching Win: 3rd Singles - Patrick Tracey, 6-0, 6-0
News and Notes
- Elmira set the program record for most wins in a season (9).
- The Soaring Eagles earned its fourth sweep of the 2016 campaign.
- EC has won two consecutive matches.
- Elmira also improved to 8-3 in home matches this season.
- Mansell and Tracey remain in a two-way tie for first place in EC history for single-season wins (12).
- Waters and Kogan move into a four-way tie for third place in program history for single-season wins (10).
- Konow jumped into a tie for seventh place for single-season victories (9).
- Konow and Kogan are tied for 10th in program history for single-season doubles victories (10).
- Mansell moves into a five-way tie for third place in EC history for single season doubles wins (9).
- Mansell becomes the second player in program history to record 30 career doubles wins.
Up Next
Elmira is back in action next Saturday, April 30th, when the Soaring Eagles make the short trip up Route 13 to face the Bombers of Ithaca College. Saturday's contest is slated for a 12:00 p.m. start.