Fisher Rolls Past Alfred in Conference Play, 8-1
Score: Elmira College 8 – Alfred University 1
Records: Elmira (8-5, 3-2 E8), Alfred (3-7, 1-4 E8)
Location: Murray Athletic Center – Pine Valley, N.Y.
PINE VALLEY, N.Y. -- A strong start in doubles set the tone in today's Empire 8 Conference match, as the Elmira College men's tennis team stormed past visiting Alfred University by an 8-1 final score. Elmira improved to 8-5 on the season, which includes a 4-1 mark in its last five matches, and pushed the team's league record above .500 for the first time this season at 3-2.
EC's top doubles duo of
Patrick Tracey '18 and
Theo Tran '20 continued their impressive play this evening with a lopsided 8-1 victory. The Soaring Eagles would also collect wins at the second and third positions, but those victories did not come so easy.
At third doubles,
Yaniv Kogan '18 and
Anthony Colavito '20 dug themselves an early 4-1 hole, as Alfred's Kyle Kemper and Jacob Nordin took advantage of some early miscues by the Elmira men. However, Kogan and Colavito flipped the script and won the next seven games to hand their counterparts from Alfred an 8-4 setback.
The competitive nature of the doubles contests continued at the second spot, as
Chris Konow '18 and
Stephen Gervase '20 found themselves in a tightly contested match. Although both Elmira and Alfred were able to break each other's serve once during the match, neither was able to produce an additional break, which sent the match into a tiebreaker. Konow and Gervase proved to be too much for the Saxons in the breaker, as the duo edged their opponents by a mini-break for an 8-7 (5) win.
Elmira entered the singles portion of the match with a comfortable 3-0 lead, but three of the first four singles matches on court went into a third set, setting up a trio of nail-biting contests. The only player not to go three sets during that time was Tracey, who edged Alfred's Mike Wisniewski by a single break of serve in each set for a 6-3, 6-3 win. With the win, Tracey has marched away triumphant in five straight matches and improved to 9-1 in his last 10 singles contests.
Colavito looked like he was going to be the next Soaring Eagle to put a check in the win column this evening after rolling to a 6-2 opening-set victory at the second spot. However, Alfred's Peter Smock rallied to take the second set, 6-2, and rattled off five straight games to open the third set. Colavito showed a bit of resilience in that third set, as the freshman clawed his way back and cut Smock's lead to 5-4. Back on serve, Colavito went down 40-love, but rallied yet again with three straight points to force deuce. Unfortunately for the rookie talent, an untimely and unwanted double fault sealed the set and match for Smock, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.
EC needed just one point to clinch today's match, but a pair of opening-set losses by Tran and Kogan opened the door for an Alfred comeback, or so it seemed. After winning just two games in the first set, Kogan bounced back with a 6-3 win in the second and followed that up with a dominant 6-1 third-set win, which clinched the victory for the Soaring Eagles this evening.
At first singles, Tran fell in a close first set, 6-4, and a tiebreaker was played for the second set as neither player was able to consolidate the many breaks of serve they earned. The Houston, Texas, native used a flurry of heavy ground strokes to put significant pressure on his counterpart from Alfred, Kevin Volz, and claimed a one-sided 7-2 win in the tiebreaker. Tran's hard-hitting would eventually be the difference in the third set as well, as Volz was unable to match Tran's pace, resulting in a 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3 win for the Soaring Eagle freshman.
The final two matches of the day took place at the fifth and sixth positions, as Konow and Gervase concluded the evening's singles action. Konow's steadiness was too much for Alfred's Kyle Kemper at the fifth spot, which helped the third-year talent pick up his fifth singles victory of the year, 6-4, 6-3. Gervase also found himself in a close match at the six spot, but was never in jeopardy of losing, as the rookie downed Jacob Nordin in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, to wrap-up this afternoon's conference bout.
In His Own Words…
Head Coach
Tom Linhart on Elmira's play this evening…
"I think we played a complete match for the first time in a long time. We really came out aggressive in doubles, took a lead and dealt with some momentum switches, but still battled. In singles, I thought our upperclassmen really showed up and closed the match out for us. Our younger players came through and battled, but as a whole it was a good-complete match up and down the lineup."
Coach Linhart on Tracey's surging play in both singles and doubles…
"Obviously he is an experienced player, but the best thing about Pat is his mental toughness in both singles and doubles. He holds the key to the momentum and energy of our team. He's always the loudest during the matches, firing guys up and cheering for his teammates on the sidelines when he's done. He's been in control of matches and has been adapting well to different players. It's just really great to see that type of leadership from an upperclassman."
Coach Linhart on the importance of today's E8 win…
"No matter what our teams look like each year, it's always a tough match when we play Alfred. So for us to really come out and dominate 8-1 at home going into an important couple of weekends is huge. It's a great confidence builder for our younger guys to come out with wins and good for our upperclassmen to build momentum down the stretch."
Scores
Singles
1.
Theo Tran (ELMIRA) def. Kevin Volz (ALFRED) 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3
2. Peter Smock (ALFRED) def.
Anthony Colavito (ELMIRA) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
3.
Patrick Tracey (ELMIRA) def. Mike Wisniewski (ALFRED) 6-3, 6-3
4.
Yaniv Kogan (ELMIRA) def. Patrick Brown (ALFRED) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
5.
Chris Konow (ELMIRA) def. Kyle Kemper (ALFRED) 6-4, 6-3
6.
Stephen Gervase (ELMIRA) def. Jacob Nordin (ALFRED) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles
1. Tracey/Tran (ELMIRA) def. Volz Brown (ALFRED) 8-1
2. Konow Gervase (ELMIRA) def. Wisniewski/Smock (ALFRED) 8-7 (7-5)
3. Kogan/Colavito (ELMIRA) def. Kemper/Nordin (ALFRED) 8-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,2,4,1,5,6)
News and Notes
- Elmira improved to 8-5 on the year and 3-2 in conference play.
- EC is 4-1 in its last five matches, which includes a 3-1 mark against E8 opponents.
- Elmira's eight wins are tied for second-most in the program's history.
- The three E8 victories are also tied for second most in EC history.
- The Soaring Eagles earned their first home win since March 27 against Keystone.
- Konow took over sole possession of fifth place in EC history for 47 career wins.
- Konow also became the sole owner of third place in program history for career doubles wins (26).
- Tracey moved into a tie for sixth place in program history for career wins with 46.
- Tracey is tied for fourth place in the EC record book for single-season singles wins (10).
- Kogan is now the sole owner of fourth place in EC history in career doubles wins (24).
- Colavito is tied for second place in EC history for most single-season doubles victories (10).
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles return to the courts this Saturday, April 22, when they flock to Hoboken, New Jersey, to take on the No. 39-ranked Ducks of Stevens Institute of Technology. The opening serve is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.