WEST POINT, N.Y. (3/27/10) - The Colgate men's tennis team upset Army, 4-3, on Saturday, March 27, earning their first Patriot League win of the season in West Point, N.Y. The Raiders now improve to 6-5 overall and 1-1 in league play while the Black Knights fall to 9-7 overall and 3-1 in the conference.
"I couldn't be prouder of the heart and fight our men showed today to beat a very quality team on the road," stated head coach Bobby Pennington. "We are 3-0 in 4-3 matches this year and haven't lost a 4-3 match in two years. Everybody stepped up today, Spellberg, Bernasek, and Goldstein all manned up."
The Raiders swept doubles play winning all three matches starting with the No. 1 position as senior captains Michael Yassky (New York, N.Y.) and John Nogueras (Parkland, Fla.) downed Army's Chris Albornoz and Johnny Lucero, 8-3. Classmate Phil Bernasek (Fairfield, Conn.) and junior Ruslan Goussiantnikiov (Needham, Mass.) defeated Tripp Johnsonand Alex Holland, 8-5 at second doubles, while freshmen Alec Goldstein (Bethesda, Md.) and Harry Jewett (Centennial, Colo.) outlasted Army's Rashad Shelton and Dan Shaffer, 8-6, at third doubles.
In singles action, Yassky dropped the No. 1 match falling to Gary Kushnirovich, 6-4, 6-4. Bernasek outlasted Johnson, 6-4, 7-5, to earn the second singles victory, while Goldstein defeated Lucero in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 4 position. Sophomore Sean Spellberg (Naples, Fla.) earned the Raiders final singles win, downing Shelton 7-6, 6-3, at fifth singles.
Colgate - 4
Army - 3
Doubles
1. Michael Yassky/John Nogueras (C) def. Chris Albornoz/Johnny Lucero (A); 8-3
2. Phil Bernasek/Ruslan Goussiantnikov (C) def. Tripp Johnson/Alex Holland (A); 8-5
3. Alec Goldstein/Harry Jewett (C) def. Rashad Shelton/Dan Shaffer; 8-6
Singles
1. Gary Kushnirovich (A) def. Michael Yassky (C); 6-4, 6-4
2. Phil Bernasek (C) def. Tripp Johnson (A); 6-4, 7-5
3. Chris Albornoz (A) def. John Nogueras (C); 6-1, 6-3
4. Alec Goldstein (C) def. Johnny Lucero (A); 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
5. Sean Spellberg (C) def. Rashad Shelton (A); 7-6, 6-3
6. Bruno Lucivero (A) def. Harry Jewett (C); 6-3, 6-1