April 3, 2009

BETHLEHEM Pa. - The Lafayette men's tennis team lost a hard-fought match, 4-3, against archival Lehigh in the Leopards' conference opener. Trailing the Leopards 3-1, the Mountain Hawks fired back with victories in a trio of three-set matches to steal the win at Ulrich Varsity Courts.

The Leopards won the doubles point after the No. 2 pair of Doug Gallagher and Kyle MacLelland and No. 3 doubles of James Murphy and Andrew Morris claimed their matches, 8-5.

Steven Benezra defeated Leland Richardson (6-3, 6-1) in the third singles and MacLelland picked up his second victory of the day, winning his sets 7-5, 6-3 over J.T. Bolcar.

After losing to Troy List in the first set of No. 1 singles, 6-3, Eric Wiley nearly shut out List in the second set, 6-1. List fired back to win the final set, 6-4.

The No. 5 singles also went three sets after Murphy took the first set, 6-2, but Arnaldo Pacheco rallied for the win.

In the deciding match at the No. 2 singles, Gallagher's second set win in a 7-5 decision forced a last set against Collin Laffey, but Laffey clinched the final, 6-3, on his serve.

The Mountain Hawks rallied to improve their record to 6-13 overall and 1-2 in the league, while Lafayette stands at 5-7, 0-1.

Lafayette continues its conference slate at West Point, N.Y. where the team will meet Army today and Holy Cross on Saturday.

Results
Singles
1. Troy List def. Eric Wiley 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
2. Collin Laffey def. Doug Gallagher 6-1, 5-7, 6-3
3. Steven Benezra def. Leland Richardson 6-3, 6-1
4. Edgars Rauza def. Lee Kojanis 6-0, 6-3
5. Arnaldo Pacheco def. James Murphy 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
6. Kyle MacLelland def. J.T. Bolcar, 7-5, 6-3
Doubles
1. List/Laffey def. Wiley/Kojanis 6-5 ret.
2. Gallagher/MacLelland def. Richardson/Rauza 8-5
3. Murphy/Andrew Morris def. Pacheco/Bolcar 8-5