Men's Tennis Falls 5-4 to Lesley
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College men's tennis team lost by a 5-4 final to Lesley University on Thursday afternoon in New England Collegiate Conference action at the Mitchell Tennis Courts.
The Lynx (2-3 overall, 1-2 NECC) picked up their first-ever conference victory over the Mariners (2-3 overall, 1-2 NECC) by winning two of three doubles matches and three of six singles matches. Thomas Tedesco led the way for Lesley by earning two points on the day, winning at No. 2 doubles and No. 3 singles.
Playing without their top player due to illness, the Mariners were forced to play a number of players out of position. Freshman Graham Cavanaugh stepped up to the challenge, picking up wins at both No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles for the first time this year.
Tedesco and Alex Zhitnik teamed up for an 8-2 win at No. 2 doubles, and the duo of Roman Pham and Jordan Santos posted an 8-3 victory at No. 3. Mitchell salvaged a doubles point at the top position, as Cavanaugh and Zachary Simmons pulled out an 8-3 win.
The teams split the first two singles matches of the day, with Lesley's Mike Kaufman cruising to a 6-0, 6-0 win at the No. 4 spot. Mitchell responded by winning at No. 2 as Cavanaugh rolled to a 6-2, 6-0 victory.
The Lynx picked up a critical point at No. 3 singles when Tedesco fought off a Randy Coons for a 7-5, 6-3 win. The two were tied in the first set before Tedesco rallied to win two straight games to take the set. His victory put Lesley up 4-2 with three matches still left undecided out on the court.
Lesley sealed the match when Nick Mattox hung on for a three-set victory over Simmons at the No. 1 position. Mattox took the first set 6-3 before Simmons rallied back for a 6-2 win in the second set. Mattox then regained his composure and reeled off six straight games to win the final set 6-0.
Mitchell's Timothy Atkinson and Chris McKeon each picked up wins in straight sets at the No. 5 and 6 singles spots, respectively.
Mitchell returns to action at Becker College on Saturday, April 6 at 1 p.m.
