Men's Tennis Blanks Franklin Pierce, Improves to 5-0 in NE10
RINDGE, NH- The Merrimack men's tennis team remained unbeaten in conference action with a 9-0 victory at Franklin Pierce Friday afternoon. The Warriors rise to 9-5 on the year and 5-0 in the Northeast-10 Conference. The Ravens slide to 1-4 overall and 0-4 in league matches.
"We played really well at every position today. All season we have competed and battled in every match and today was no different," said head coach Sean Tully. "We have two important matches this weekend."
Merrimack posted three victories in doubles play to take a 3-0 lead at the start of singles action. The Warriors top duo of Sean Pahler (Rumson, NJ) and Max Eppley (Malaga, Spain) earned a 5-2 win as their opponent retired in the eighth game. Chris Barnhart (Longmeadow, MA) and Vince Bellino (Amesbury, MA) picked up an 8-5 victory at the No. 2 slot. Petar Golijanin (Novi Sad, Serbia) and Chris Toegemann (Narragansett, RI) prevailed 8-4 at the third doubles spot.
The Warriors sealed their sixth-straight conference victory with six singles wins Friday.
Barnhart bounced back from dropping the first set 4-6 to triumph in the second 6-2 at the top slot. Barnhart edged Franklin Pierce's Patrick Gilhuly 10-8 in a third-set super-tiebreaker.
Eppley cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 win at the No. 2 singles position. Golijanin captured a 6-1, 6-0 victory at the third spot. Bellino posted an 8-1 decision at the No. 4 slot.
Pahler rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 victory at the fifth position while Toegemann picked up a 6-3, 6-0 win at the No. 6 spot.
Merrimack will visit Pace March 31 and Adelphi April 1 as it looks to remain undefeated in the Northeast-10 Conference.
RESULTS
Doubles
1. Pahler/Eppley (MER) def. Gilhuly/Wong (FPU) 5-2 (ret.)
2. Barnhart/Bellino (MER) def. Brewer/Aubin (FPU) 8-5
3. Golijanin/Toegemann (MER) def. Colombo/Crowe (FPU) 8-4
Singles
1. Barnhart (MER) def. Gilhuly (FPU) 4-6, 6-2, 10-8
2. Eppley (MER) def. Brewer (FPU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Golijanin (MER) def. Aubin (FPU) 6-1, 6-0
4. Bellino (MER) def. Colombo (FPU) 8-1
5. Pahler (MER) def. Crowe (FPU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Toegemann (MER) def. Bujak (FPU) 6-3, 6-0
