Men’s Tennis Drops 7-2 Decision to Wittenberg Wednesday

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.- The Eastern Nazarene men's tennis team was handed a 7-2 loss by Wittenberg Wednesday afternoon at Chaplin Park in Hilton Head Island, S.C.

The Lions stumble to 2-3 on the season while the Tigers elevate to 6-1 overall with the win.

Wittenberg nursed a 2-1 lead at the end of doubles play after claiming a pair of victories.

Eastern Nazarene's lone doubles victory came at the No. 3 position as the duo of Kevin Paterno (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Davis Steelman (Darlington, Md.) prevailed 8-4.

Sam McKay-Corkum (Rehoboth, Mass.) and Andres Biondi (Barquisimeto, Venezuela) absorbed an 8-0 loss at the top slot to Tyler Strong and Juan Mena. Tyler Perron (Plympton, Mass.) and Nick Thompson (York, Pa.) fell to Akbar Tiwana and Stas Pakhomov 8-2 at the second doubles spot.

The Tigers earned five singles victories en route to capturing their second win of the day after having defeated Marietta in the morning.

Perron posted the Lions' sole singles victory on the afternoon, winning in straight sets at the third slot. The junior edged Tiwana 7-5 in a tiebreaker to claim the first set 7-6 before notching a 6-4 victory in the second frame.

Paterno suffered a three-set setback at the fourth singles position to Strong. After dropping the first set 6-0, Paterno battled back to level the match with a 7-5 win in the second set before falling in a third-set super-tiebreaker 10-7.

Playing in the top singles spot for the first time in his collegiate career, Biondi endured a 6-2, 6-3 setback to Pakhomov.

McKay-Corkum absorbed a 6-1, 6-0 loss in the No. 2 singles match while Steelman was edged at the No. 5 position 6-4, 7-5 and Thompson fell 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 6 spot.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene will battle Bridgewater (Va.) March 13.