WEST POINT, N.Y. (3/28/10) - The Colgate men’s tennis team improved to 2-1 in the Patriot League after defeating Lafayette, 6-1, on Sunday afternoon in West Point, N.Y. The Raiders are now 7-5 overall and 2-1 in league play after defeating Army on Saturday afternoon.
“We won four three-set matches today, showing our heart and courage,” stated head coach Bobby Pennington. “We simply refused to lose.”
The Raiders earned the doubles point with victories at both the second and third doubles positions. Partners Phil Bernasek (Fairfield, Conn.) and Ruslan Goussiantnikov (Needham, Mass.) downed Lafayette’s Kyle MacLelland and Scott Gelbman, 8-3, at the No. 2 position. Freshmen duo Alec Goldstein (Bethesda, Md.) and Harry Jewett (Centennial, Colo.) defeated James Murphy and Andrew Morris at the third doubles slot, 8-1. In the top spot, senior captains Michael Yassky (New York, N.Y.) and John Nogueras (Parkland, Fla.) were edged out, 9-8, by Eric Wiley and Doug Gallagher.
In singles action, the Raiders swept the second through sixth positions with four of the five matches coming down to three sets. Bernasek was blanked in his second set, but outlasted Gallagher, 7-5, 0-6, 7-5, at the No. 2 position. Nogueras downed MacLelland in two sets, 6-4, 6-1 at the third spot, while Goldstein defeated Steven Benezra, 7-5, 6-7, 6-4, in his fourth singles match. Sophomore Sean Spellberg (Naples, Fla.) earned the fifth singles win against Justin Haar, 6-1, 6-7, 7-6 (11-9) and Colgate’s Jewett defeated Gelbman after dropping the first set, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6, at sixth singles.
The Raiders will be back in action this Saturday, April 3, when they take on fellow Patriot League opponent Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pa.
Colgate - 6
Lafayette - 1
Doubles
1. Eric Wiley/Doug Gallagher (L) def. Michael Yassky/John Nogueras (C), 9-8
2. Phil Bernasek/Ruslan Goussiantnikov (C) def. Kyle MacLelland/Scott Gelbman (L); 8-3
3. Alec Goldstein/Harry Jewett (C) def. James Murphy/Andrew Morris (L); 8-1
Singles
1. Eric Wiley (L) def. Michael Yassky (C), 6-4, 6-2
2. Phil Bernasek (C) def. Doug Gallagher (L), 7-5, 0-6, 7-5
3. John Nogueras (C) def.Kyle MacLelland (L), 6-4, 6-1
4. Alec Goldstein (C) def. Steven Benezra (L), 7-5, 6-7, 6-4
5. Sean Spellberg (C) def. Justin Haar (L); 6-1, 6-7, 7-6 (11-9)
6. Harry Jewett (C) def. Scott Gelbman (L), 4-6, 6-4, 7-6