HAMILTON, N.Y. (4/12/09) - The Colgate men’s tennis team climbed into second place in the Patriot League regular season rankings with wins against rival Army and Lafayette this weekend. The men are now 11-7 overall and 4-1 in the Patriot League as they prepare for the conference tournament which starts April 17.
"To be second in the Patriot League after the regular season is a tremendous accomplishment and a huge step for our program,” stated head coach Bobby Pennington. “The best is still to come"
The Raiders defeated Army, 4-3, on Friday afternoon at the Eastside Racquet Club in Syracuse, N.Y. After dropping the doubles point with losses at first and second doubles, the Colgate men won four of the six singles matches for the win. Michael Yassky (New York, N.Y.) and Jamie Pellechi (Pound Ridge, N.Y.) claimed the Raiders only doubles win in the No. 3 spot, downing Sean Harris and Donald Van Velzer, 8-3.
In singles action, senior Martin MacIntyre (Arlington, Va.) defeated Army’s Phil Muhawi, 6-2, 6-2 in the No. 1 spot. Phil Bernasek (Fairfield, Conn.) and Yassky took the third and fourth singles matches to three sets, with Bernasek defeating Chris Albornoz, 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 at third singles while Yassky beat out Van Velzer, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 at fourth singles. Freshman Sean Spellberg (Naples, Fla.) outlasted Dan Shaffer, 6-1, 7-6, to secure the Colgate victory.
"This was arguably the biggest win in Colgate men’s tennis history,” stated Pennington. “Our guys showed a ton of heart and courage."
On Saturday the men traveled to Easton, Pa. to take on Lafayette in their final conference match of the 2009 season. The Raiders defeated Lafayette 5-2, sweeping doubles play and winning four of the six singles matches.
At first doubles, the duo of MacIntyre and John Nogueras (Parkland, Fla.) defeated Eric Wiley and Lee Kojanis, 8-5. Partners Bernasek and Ruslan Goussiantnikov (Needham, Mass.) downed Doug Gallagher and Kyle MacLelland, 8-3, at second doubles, while Yassky and Pellechi held on to defeat Andrew Morris and James Murphy, 9-8 at the No. 3 spot.
Highlighting singles play was Nogueras in the No. 2 spot with a 7-6, 6-3, victory against Gallagher, while Bernasek defeated Justin Haar, 7-5, 6-3, at third singles. Yassky won the fourth singles match against Steven Benezra, 6-3, 6-2, and Spellberg defeated MacLelland, 8-3, at sixth singles.
The Raiders head into the Patriot League Tournament this weekend ranked No. 2 in the conference. Tournament action begins Friday, April 17, at the MalekTennisCenter on Army’s campus, in West Point, N.Y.
Colgate 4
Army 3
Doubles:
Muhawi/Girdley def. MacIntyre/Nogueras 8-4
Albornoz/Lucido def. Bernasek/Goussiantnikov 8-6
Yassky/Pellechi def. Harris/Van Velzer 8-3
Singles:
Martin MacIntyre def. Phil Muhawi 6-2, 6-2
Jordan Girdley def. John Nogueras 7-6, 6-3
Phil Bernasek def. Chris Albornoz 5-7, 7-6, 6-3
Michael Yassky def. Donald Van Velzer 6-4, 4-6, 7-6
Johnny Lucero def. Ruslan Goussiantnikov 6-1, 7-6, 6-2
Sean Spellberg def. Dan Shaffer 6-1, 7-6
Colgate 5
Lafayette 2
Doubles:
MacIntyre/Nogueras def. Wiley/Kojanis 8-5
Bernasek/Goussiantnikov def. Gallager/MacLelland 8-3
Yassky/Pellechi def. Morris/Murphy 9-8
Singles:
Eric Wiley def. Martin MacIntyre 1-6, 6-4, 6-0
John Nogueras def. Doug Gallagher 7-6, 6-3
Phil Bernasek def. Justin Haar 7-5, 6-3
Michael Yassky def. Steven Benezra 6-3, 6-2
James Murphy def. Ruslan Goussiantnikov 6-3, 6-3
Sean Spellberg def. Kyle MacLelland 8-3