Men’s Tennis Overcomes Doubles Deficit Again, Downs Le Moyne in NE10 Opener, 5-4

Links: Box Score  

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – For the second consecutive match, the Merrimack College men's tennis program overcame a 2-1 deficit doubles deficit, this time defeating the Le Moyne College Dolphins, 5-4, in the Northeast-10 Conference opener for the Warriors. Senior Frank Vega rallied for a three-set victory at third singles, which proved to be the deciding match.

The Basics
Score: Merrimack 5, Le Moyne 4
Records: Merrimack (4-2, 1-0 NE10) | Le Moyne (2-4, 0-2 NE10)
Location: Syracuse, N.Y.

Results
Doubles

1. Philip Blythe/Hallam Doney (LEM) def. Mikhail Belov/Denis Davydov (MERM) 8-4 2. Frank Vega/Alex Fedorov (MERM) def. Andres Hernandez/Jason Barton (LEM) 8-5 3. Xavier Graells/Tyler Underwood (LEM) def. Tyler Clontz/Paul Weidinger (MERM) 8-2

Singles

1. Mikhail Belov (MERM) def. Philip Blythe (LEM) 6-1, 6-4 2. Andres Hernandez (LEM) def. Denis Davydov (MERM) 7-5, 6-4 3. Frank Vega (MERM) def. Xavier Graells (LEM) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 4. Alex Fedorov (MERM) def. Jason Barton (LEM) 7-5, 6-3 5. Hallam Doney (LEM) def. Tyler Clontz (MERM) 6-1, 6-3 6. Paul Weidinger (MERM) def. Christian Erickson (LEM) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)

Rapid Recap

• Mirroring Saturday's outcome at Roberts Wesleyan, Vega and junior Alex Fedorov triumphed at second doubles, 8-4, to give the Warriors their lone point of the doubles segment. Le Moyne took the first flight (8-4) and the third rung of the doubles ladder (8-2) to collect a 2-1 lead entering singles
• Senior Mikhail Belov registered his second straight-sets singles win of the weekend, 6-1 and 6-4, over Le Moyne's top option
• Fedorov won in straight sets (7-5, 6-3) at No. 4, while sophomore Paul Weidinger won his first-ever NE10 singles contest, 6-4 and 7-6, at the sixth flight
• Vega completed the comeback despite faltering in his opener, 6-4. The senior recovered to even the match, 6-3, before winning the third set in 6-4 fashion

Up Next:
Merrimack plays in another two-match weekend coming up, beginning with a home match against regional-power NYIT at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon from the Northeast Tennis Center in Middleton.