WILSON, N.C. -- The Mercyhurst men's tennis team stormed back from an early deficit, taking 5 of 6 singles points, to defeat non-conference opponent Barton, 6-3, on Thursday. The Lakers are ranked third in the Atlantic Region while Barton is No. 10 in the Southeast.
The Lakers (7-1) fell behind 2-1 through doubles competition and then dropped the first singles before storming back with wins in the final five singles decisions. The match was clinched when
Luka Veselic earned his victory in the No. 6 singles match over Barton's Hugh Ryder, 6-2, 6-1.
Nenad Terzic and
Cormac McCooey had spotted Mercyhurst the match's first lead with an 8-0 sweep of Rory Gaydon and Oscar Marmestadt at No. 1 singles. After that, the Bulldogs responded with victories at second and third doubles to go ahead.
A No. 5 singles win by Alessandro Gerbino aided Barton to a 3-1 advantage before the Laker comeback.
Terzic (No. 3 Atlantic Region singles) got the Lakers started with a win over Gaydon at first singles, 6-1, 6-4, before McCooey (No. 11 Atlantic singles) evened the match at 3-all with his 6-2, 6-1, triumph against Diego Agudelo at third singles.
The lead went Mercyhurst's way when
Unai Amilleta Gonzalez (No. 17 Atlantic singles) ground out a win over Jesus Gil, 6-4, 6-4, in the fourth singles match. That set the stage for Veselic's clincher.
Ruairidh Fraser (No. 5 Atlantic singles) added another point to the Laker tally with his win over Marmestadt at second singles, 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (10-4).
Both Fraser and McCooey extended singles winning streaks to five matches. Fraser, McCooey, Terzic and Veselic are all 6-1 in their last seven individual contests. Amilleta Gonzalez is 5-1 in his last six matches.
In doubles competition, Terzic and McCooey have combined for a 6-1 record in their last seven pairs matches.
The Lakers will be in action next when they host Roberts Wesleyan for a non-conference match on Sunday, Mar. 18, at Pennbriar Athletic Club.
Mercyhurst 6, Barton 3
| Singles competition |
| 1. Nenad Terzic (MER-M) def. Rory Gaydon (BAR-M) 6-1, 6-4 |
| 2. Ruairidh Fraser (MER-M) def. Oscar Marmestadt (BAR-M) 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (10-4) |
| 3. Cormac McCooey (MER-M) def. Diego Agudelo (BAR-M) 6-2, 6-1 |
| 4. U. Amilleta Gonzalez (MER-M) def. Jesus Gil (BAR-M) 6-4, 6-4 |
| 5. Alessandro Gerbino (BAR-M) def. Sebastian Pardo (MER-M) 6-1, 6-1 |
| 6. Luka Veselic (MER-M) def. Hugh Ryder (BAR-M) 6-2, 6-1 |
| Match Notes |
| Mercyhurst 7-1 |
| Barton 1-6 |
| Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (5,1,3,4,6,2) |
