April 26, 2012

EASTON, Pa. - Wednesday's regular-season finale between the Lafayette men's tennis team and rival Lehigh came down to the final set at Sullivan Tennis Courts. Despite claiming the doubles point and getting singles wins from James Oliver and Scott Gelbman, the Leopards were edged by the visiting Mountain Hawks, 4-3.

The duos of Gelbman and Will Mercorella and Oliver and Brandon Goldstein were each victorious at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to lock up the first point of the match. Lehigh took a brief lead with wins at No. 3 and No. 1 singles before Oliver prevailed in the No. 4 spot to knot the match at 2-2. Gelbman's triumph at No. 6 singles pulled the Leopards within one point of an upset, but the Mountain Hawks claimed No. 5 singles in a tiebreak and No. 2 singles in a deciding third set to escape with the 4-3 win.

Lafayette concludes the regular season at 5-11 in dual matches. The Leopards will be the No. 6 seed in the Patriot League Tournament. Quarterfinal action from Annapolis begins Friday with Lafayette meeting No. 3 Army.

Results
Singles1. Mitchell Petersen (LU) def. Doug Gallagher (LC) 6-3, 6-22. Ben Gilman (LU) def. Brandon Goldstein (LC) 3-6, 6-1, 6-23. Matt Savran (LU) def. Will Mercorella (LC) 6-3, 6-04. James Oliver (LC) def. Andrew Krentz (LU) 6-4, 6-45. DJ Goldblum (LU) def. Andrew Morris (LC) 7-5, 7-6 (5)6. Scott Gelbman (LC) def. Timur Chernykh (LU) 6-4, 6-4Order of finish: 3, 1, 4, 6, 5, 2
Doubles1. Gilman/Savran (LU) def. Gallagher/Morris (LC) 8-62. Mercorella/Gelbman (LC) def. Petersen/Krentz (LU) 8-53. Goldstein/Oliver (LC) def. Chernykh/Rauza (LU) 8-3Order of finish: 2, 3, 1