Men’s Tennis Edged by Emory & Henry in Hilton Head to Open Spring Slate

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.- The Eastern Nazarene men's tennis team dropped a 5-4 decision to Emory & Henry Monday afternoon to kick off the 2014 spring season in Hilton Head Island.

The Lions slip to 2-1 overall while the Wasps improve to 2-6 on the year with the result.

Eastern Nazarene claimed a pair of doubles victories to seize a 2-1 lead.

Tyler Perron (Plympton, Mass.) and Nick Thompson (York, Pa.) prevailed 8-3 at the No. 2 doubles position over John Ferguson and Luke Funkhouser. Kevin Paterno (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Davis Steelman (Darlington, Md.) topped Emory & Henry's Jonathan Romano and John Hanlon at the third doubles slot, 8-3.

Andres Biondi (Barquisimeto, Venezuela) and Sam McKay-Corkum (Rebohoth, Mass.) suffered an 8-2 setback at the top spot, falling to Alex Minasyan and Kamil Aliev.

The Wasps tallied four wins in singles action to secure their second victory of the year.

Paterno posted a 6-3, 6-2 win at the No. 4 singles match over Funkhouser. Thompson collected the Lions' only other singles victory, downing Romano 6-3, 6-2 at the sixth position.

McKay-Corkum fell to Minasyan 6-1, 6-1 at the No. 1 singles slot while Biondi dropped a 6-0, 6-2 decision to Ferguson at the second spot. Perron absorbed a 6-0, 6-2 loss at the No. 3 position to Aliev and Steelman suffered a 6-3, 6-2 setback in the fifth singles match to Eric Logan.

Eastern Nazarene returns to the courts March 11 to take on NCAA Division II foe Assumption.