Elmira Runs Win Streak to Four Straight with 9-0 Rout of Keystone
PINE VALLEY, N.Y. -- Elmira College men's tennis continued its assault on non-conference opponents this afternoon, as the Soaring Eagles throttled visiting Keystone College by a 9-0 final score. The victory extended Elmira's win streak to four consecutive matches, including the last three which have come in the form of shutouts, to push the Purple and Gold's record to above .500 for the first time this season (4-3).
Keystone began today's match with a disadvantage right off the bat, as the Giants traveled with just five players, resulting in forfeits at third doubles and sixth singles. Although Elmira started the match with a 2-0 lead, EC proved that it did not need the help, as the Soaring Eagles won 76-of-78 games played en route to the non-conference victory.
Patrick Tracey '18, the reigning Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week, teamed up with
Chris Konow '18 for an 8-0 win at number one doubles. It marked the first time this season and the sixth time over the last three years that the two classmates have teamed up in doubles action. With the win, the duo improved to 3-3 all-time as a doubles tandem.
EC's
Anthony Colavito' 20 and
Yaniv Kogan '18 took down their counterparts from Keystone at the second doubles spot, 8-1, to pick up their fourth consecutive win of the year. The duo improved to 4-2 on the season, which includes an unblemished 2-0 mark at the second doubles position.
With the two wins at first and second doubles, along with forfeits at third doubles and sixth singles, Elmira entered the singles portion of today's match with a hefty 4-0 lead. Rookie
Stephen Gervase '20 delivered the knock-out blow to the Giants with a routine 6-0, 6-0 straight-set victory at fifth singles to clinch EC's fourth straight win.
Kogan followed closely behind at fourth singles with another 6-0, 6-0 win, as did Tracey and Konow at the second and third positions, respectively. Colavito slammed the door on today's rout by picking up his first career singles win at the top spot, 6-1, 6-0.
In His Own Words…
Head Coach
Tom Linhart shares his thoughts on today's match…
"Today we were very efficient. We executed the fundamentals, played to our level, and took care of business."
Coach Linhart on building confidence with early-season wins heading into conference play…
"Winning breeds winning, but to come out and do it so convincingly really builds confidence, which we will need to go up against the E8's best teams."
Coach Linhart reflects on EC's win streak…
"I am pleased with our guys' development over the spring and to see the hard work payoff is really the cause of this win streak we are on. It has been fun to watch them play."
Scores
Singles
1.
Anthony Colavito (ELMIRA) def. Greenip, Dan (KCMT) 6-1, 6-0
2.
Patrick Tracey (ELMIRA) def. Haberek, Ross (KCMT) 6-0, 6-0
3.
Chris Konow (ELMIRA) def. Lamond, Thomas (KCMT) 6-0, 6-0
4.
Yaniv Kogan (ELMIRA) def. Richards, David (KCMT) 6-0, 6-0
5.
Stephen Gervase (ELMIRA) def. Dunbar, Tim (KCMT) 6-0, 6-0
6.
Jordan Curtis (ELMIRA) def. No player (KCMT), by forfeit
Doubles
1. Tracey/Konow (ELMIRA) def. Greenip/Richards (KCMT) 8-0
2. Colavito/Kogan (ELMIRA) def. Haberek/Lamond (KCMT) 8-1
3. Gervase/Curtis (ELMIRA) def. No player/No player (KCMT), by forfeit
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,5,4,2,3,1)
News and Notes
- Elmira extended its win streak to four consecutive matches.
- EC has picked up three straight 9-0 wins during its four-match win streak.
- The Soaring Eagles' record is above .500 for the first time this season at 4-3.
- The last time EC was above .500 dates back to April 24, 2016 (9-8).
- EC's home record is also above .500 for the first time this season at 3-2.
- Elmira improved to 2-0 all-time against Keystone.
- Kogan moved into a three-way tie for fifth place in EC history for career wins (41).
- Konow sits in a three-way tie for eighth place in program history for career wins (40).
- Konow also slid into a four-way tie for fifth all-time in doubles victories (21).
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles put their four-match win streak on the line this Saturday, April 1, when the Purple and Gold welcome Ithaca College to the Murray Athletic Center. Saturday's Empire 8 Conference opener is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.