NORTH HAVEN, Conn. – Tied at 3-3 with the final singles match ongoing, freshman
Aryaan Bhatia of the Merrimack College men's tennis team won a three-set duel at the second flight to give the Merrimack College men's tennis team a 4-3 Northeast Conference (NEC) win over Sacred Heart University on Saturday night at the North Haven Racquet Club.
The Warriors took down the Pioneers – who were picked to finish in third in the NEC – to record their first win of the season. Merrimack earned the win by winning four of six singles matches against the Pioneers, including triumphs in the top-three flights.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 4, Sacred Heart 3
Records: Merrimack (1-4, 1-0 NEC) | Sacred Heart (0-5, 0-2 NEC)
Location: North Haven, Conn. | North Haven Racquet Club
Rapid Recap
- Jumping immediately to the final match of the night, Bhatia lost his first set, but recovered by playing some of the rookie's best tennis of the season. He and his foe at No. 2 held serve in the second set to usher on a tiebreaker. The first-year Warrior won the tiebreak, 7-6 (3), to force the third set. Bhatia then played his best tennis of the night, winning by a 6-0 margin to clinch his first career singles win, and the match victory for Merrimack
- Freshman Jan Semerak opened singles with a two-set win at the first flight, winning both of his sets by 6-4 margins. Junior Jonathan Garcia followed with a victory at No. 3, 6-4 and 6-2, to give the visitors a 2-1 lead in the match. Junior Alec Mackay Rodriguez made it three straight wins for the Warriors with a two-set win of his own (6-2, 7-6(6)). Sacred Heart went on to win at fourth and sixth singles to precede the drama of Bhatia's victory
- The doubles portion of the match saw the Pioneers win all three matches to claim the doubles point. Juniors Conrad Koch and Hassan El Alami played at No. 3 for Merrimack, their second match together this season
Up Next
Merrimack hosts Bryant University, the preseason favorites in the NEC, next Saturday.
