Men’s Tennis Blanked by Elizabethtown; Bests Lebanon Valley

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.- The Eastern Nazarene men's tennis team absorbed a 9-0 loss to Elizabethtown and rebounded to down Lebanon Valley 8-1 Thursday in Hilton Head Island, S.C. The Lions progress to 3-3 on the season while the Bluejays reach 3-0 overall and the Dutchmen fall to 2-3.

In the morning match, Elizabethtown swept the three doubles points to sport a 3-0 lead at the end of pairs play.

Austin Steelman (Darlington, Md.) and Nick Thompson (York, Pa.) narrowly fell at the top position, 8-6. Sam McKay-Corkum (Rehoboth, Mass.) and Tyler Perron (Plympton, Mass.) dropped an 8-3 decision at the No. 2 slot. Kevin Paterno (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Gregory Parenteau (Wolcott, Conn.) were edged 8-6 at the third spot.

The Bluejays racked up six wins in the singles portion of the match to close out the victory.

Steelman prevailed in the first set 6-1 at the No.1 slot but retired in the second. McKay-Corkum fell 7-6, 7-5 in a closely-contested match at the second singles position.

Perron endured a 6-4, 6-2 setback at the third spot and Paterno suffered a 6-1, 6-3 loss at the fourth position.

Eastern Nazarene bounced back Thursday evening to claim an 8-1 victory over Lebanon Valley.

The Lions picked up two victories in doubles play to hold a 2-1 edge.

Steelman and Thompson absorbed an 8-3 loss at the No. 1 position. McKay-Corkum and Tim Luz (Cumberland, R.I.) posted an 8-1 win at the second slot while Paterno and Perron also prevailed 8-1 at the third spot.

Eastern Nazarene overpowered the Dutchmen in singles action, sweeping all six singles matches en route to its third win of the spring.

Steelman picked up a 6-1, 6-4 victory at the top singles slot and McKay-Corkum notched a 6-4, 6-2 win at the second position. At the No. 3 spot, Luz topped Lebanon Valley's Andrew Wilson 6-4, 6-2 while Paterno rolled to a 6-1, 6-2 victory at the fifth position.

Perron triumphed at the fourth slot after claiming a 10-8 decision in a third-set tiebreaker. He posted a 6-3 win in the first set and was edged 7-5 in the second.

Thompson also muscled out a third-set tiebreaker win at the sixth singles match. The junior cruised in the first frame 6-2 before suffering a 6-1 loss in the second set. Thompson doubled up Dillon Streifender 10-5 in the tiebreaker.

Eastern Nazarene returns the Bay State to continue the 2013 campaign with a non-conference bout at Division II foe Stonehill March 14.