Teaneck, NJ - The Wagner College men's tennis team notched a 4-3 comeback win over NEC rival Mercyhurst on Sunday.
At neutral site FDU in Teaneck, NJ, the Seahawks took the #1 doubles court, 6-4, behind graduates Carlos Rodriguez and
Gabriele Zugarelli. However, the Lakers were able to secure sets on courts #2 and #3 to win the doubles point.
In singles, Wagner got on the board first. Junior Pablo Rodriguez kept Wagner afloat with a critical 6-2, 6-2 win on court #3 that set the stage for the Seahawk comeback.
Mercyhurst responded with close wins on courts 1 and 2. The Lakers took the #1 court in three sets while a tiebreaker was needed in a straight set affair on court #2.
Down 1-3, the Seahawks mounted their comeback. Graduate
Antoine Nivault took his first set on court #5 moments before freshman
Damian Janiszewski secured his own first set on court #4. Freshman
Vibhu Challagundla put a charge into his teammates, taking a 6-2 set on #6. The Seahawks had three first sets in the remaining must-win matches.
Janiszewski was first off court with a convincing 6-4, 6-2 win at #4. Challagundla tied the match 3-3 with a clinical 6-2, 6-1 win at #6.
However, things were looking dicey for Nivault at #5 when he dropped his second set to push the match to a deciding third. The Frenchman was up to the task, winning a quick third set and the match 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.
The Seahawks return to action next Friday, April 4th as they venture across the five boroughs to face Fordham in the Bronx. First serve is scheduled for 2pm at the Hawthorne / Rooney Tennis Courts.
Wagner 4, Mercyhurst 3
Doubles:
1. Carlos Rodriguez &
Gabriele Zugarelli def Colm Schultz & Sviatoslav Koliadynski, 6-4
2. Danylo Rekun & Lukas Cabue def
Antoine Nivault &
Damian Janiszewski, 6-3
3. Mykhailo Polishchuck & David Mengher def Leon Schmidt & Pablo Rodriguez, 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles:
1. Danylo Rekun def Carlos Rodriguez, 6-2, 3-6, 6-0
2, Lukas Cabue def Leon Schmidt 7-6 (3), 6-3
3. Pablo Rodriguez def Colm Schultz, 6-2, 6-2
4.
Damian Janiszewski def Sviatoslav Koliadynski, 6-4, 6-3
5.
Antoine Nivault def Mykhailo Polishchuck, 6-1, 2-6, 6-1
6.
Vibhu Challagundla def David Mengher, 6-2, 6-1
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2, 4, 6, 5
