HILTON HEAD, S.C. - The Mercyhurst men's tennis team earned its first victory of the 2011-12 season with a 5-4 victory over York College on Wednesday. The Lakers improved to 1-6 on the year and closed their southern spring trip with a 1-3 mark.

Senior Keith Whittingham did not lose a point the entire afternoon, winning at #1 singles over York's Eric Cooperman 6-0, 6-0, and then teaming up with Jorn van der Veer for an 8-0 victory at #1 doubles.

Van der Veer also won at #2 singles, going three sets before ousting York's Tyler Cheatem 6-0, 4-6, 6-1. Kamil Kepka also won in three sets at #6 singles.

The Lakers' duo of Eric Drusko and Mike Vinopal came up with a hard-fought 9-7 win at #2 doubles, which proved to be the difference in the match.

Mercyhurst will have some time off before returning to action on March 17 with a match at Grove City College beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Singles Competition
1. Keith Whittingham (MC-M) defeated Eric Cooperman (YORK-M) - 6-0, 6-0
2. Jorn van der Veer (MC-M) defeated Tyler Cheatem (YORK-M) - 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
3. Philip Myers (YORK-M) defeated Mauricio Canton Diaz (MC-M) - 6-1, 6-2
4. Nathaniel Hoskins (YORK) defeated Eric Drusko (MC-M) - 6-2, 6-2
5. James Villari (YORK-M) defeated Mike Vinopal (MC-M) - 7-6 (7-4), 6-1
6. Kamil Kepka (MC-M) defeated Matthew Rosenkrontz (YORK-M) - 6-4, 6-7 (7-1), 6-4

Doubles Competition
1. Keith Whittingham/Jorn van der Veer (MC-M) defeated Cooperman/Rosenkrontz (YORK-M) - 8-0
2. Eric Drusko/Mike Vinopal (MC-M) defeated Myers/Villari (YORK-M) - 9-7
3. Cheatem/Hoskins (YORK-M) defeated Dylan Wiesner/Mauricio Canton Diaz (MC-M) - 8-4

Match Notes
Mercyhurst University 1-6
York (Pa.) 1-3