Men’s Tennis Drops Narrow 5-4 Decision to Endicott
QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College men's tennis team suffered its first league loss of the season Thursday afternoon, falling 5-4 to Endicott at the ENC Tennis Courts.
The Lions sink to 12-3 on the year and 4-1 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference with the setback. The Gulls improve to 10-6 overall and 4-2 in conference play with the win.
The visitors captured a 2-1 advantage with a pair of victories in doubles action.
Alex Partyka (Moscow, Russia) and Henry Siercke (Hamburg, Germany) collected the home team's lone doubles win, defeating Chris Kirkpatrick and Keaton McCleary 8-1 at the No. 1 position.
Santiago Camero (Valencia, Venezuela) and Laurent Ruttkowski (Castrop-Rauxel, Germany) were edged 9-7 at the second spot by Sean McAndrews and Justin Toler.
Shaw Campbell (Redding, Calif.) and Davis Steelman (Darlington, Md.) endured an 8-5 loss at the No. 3 slot to Charles Book and Nicholas Eherts.
Eastern Nazarene and Endicott each picked up three singles victories as the Gulls escaped with a 5-4 win to deal the Lions their first conference loss and snap their five-match winning-streak.
At the top singles position, Partyka prevailed 6-4, 7-5 over Kirkpatrick to earn his fifth victory in a row.
Siercke triumphed in three sets at the No. 2 spot to register his 10th singles win of the year. After Endicott's Book claimed the opening set 6-4, Siercke stormed back to capture the second frame 6-2. The Eastern Nazarene rookie rolled to a 6-1 decision in the deciding third set.
Steelman continued his stellar campaign with a straight-sets victory at the No. 6 singles slot to improve to 15-0 on the year.
Camero absorbed a three-set loss in the No. 4 singles match against Thomas Brent. The Lions' rookie blanked Brent 6-0 in the first set before dropping the second and third 6-4, 6-4.
Ruttkowski and Kyle Pierson (Redding, Calif.) fell in straight sets at the third and fifth positions, respectively.
Up next, Eastern Nazarene is scheduled to host league-leading Nichols April 21.