Men's Tennis Drops Tussle with Tufts, 5-4
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.- The Merrimack men's
tennis team fell to Tufts 5-4 Friday afternoon. The Warriors are
now 3-1 on the year while the Jumbos improved to 4-0.
Doubles action played a significant role in the outcome in this
afternoon's match. Tufts claimed all three points in pairs play.
Merrimack faced a 3-0 hole heading into the singles matches. The
Jumbos would need wins in just two matches while the Warriors would
require a near-sweep to earn the victory.
Max
Eppley (Malaga, Spain) and Petar Golijanin
(Novi Sad, Serbia) fell at the No. 1 doubles slot 8-4.
Sean
Pahler (Rumson, N.J.) and Rishi Rajpal (New
Delhi, India) dropped an 8-3 decision at the No. 2 slot.
At the third doubles spot, Liam Hoare (West Newbury,
Mass.) and Chris Barnhart
(Longmeadow, Mass.) lost 8-4.
The Warriors nearly pulled off the come-from-behind victory over
the Jumbos. Merrimack earned wins in four of the six singles
matches while Tufts picked up two, enough for the match.
Golijanin battled to a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win at the No. 3 singles
slot. Barnhart cruised to victory at the No. 4 spot 6-0, 6-1.
Pahler won at the fifth singles position in straight sets 6-3,
6-3.
In the No. 6 singles slot, Tim McHugh (Edgartown,
Mass.) rallied back after dropping the first set 3-6 to
claim the final two sets 6-4, 6-4.
"Today's match was a tough loss but we showed promise. Our
singles play continues to rise to the occasion but we need to work
on our doubles," said head coach Chris Stevens.
Merrimack will look to threepeat as champions of the Stonehill
Invitational tournament, set for October 9.
RESULTS
Singles
1. Andrew Lutz (Tufts) def. Max Eppley (MER) 6-1, 7-6 (5)
2. Ben Barad (Tufts) def. Rishi Rajpal(MER) 6-1, 6-2
3. Petar Golijanin (MER) def. Mark Westerfield (Tufts) 6-4, 3-6,
6-3
4. Chris Barnhart (MER) def Morrie Bosson (Tufts)6-0, 6-1
5. Sean Pahler (MER) def. Andrew McHugh (Tufts) 6-3, 6-3
6. Tim McHugh (MER) def. Neil Jawadekar(Tufts) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Doubles
1. Andrew Lutz/Ben Barad (Tufts) def. Max Eppley/ Petar Golijanin
(MER) 8-4
2. Mark Westerfield/Morrie Bosson (Tufts )def. Sean Pahler/Rishi
Rajpal (MER) 8-3
3. Andrew McHugh/Axel Olson (Tufts) def. Liam Hoare/Chris Barnhart
(MER) 8-4
