ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst men's tennis team rallied for a 4-3 victory over non-conference opponent Ashland on Sunday at the Westwood Racquet Club.

The Lakers (5-1), who are ranked No. 2 in the Atlantic Region, took 2 of 3 doubles matches, taking a 1-0 lead into singles play. From there, the teams split the six singles tilts, culminating with wins by Arseniy Sklyarov and Felix Schmedding at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively, to push MU past the Eagles (4-2).

Sklyarov and Ruairidh Fraser got Mercyhurst started with a 7-5 victory at No. 2 doubles over Priyank Soni and Stanislaw Grzeslo. AU evened the count at 1-1 before Mercyhurst claimed the lone doubles point with a win by Schmedding and Claudius Zimmer at third doubles, 7-6 (5).

In singles play, Unai Amilleta Gonzalez pushed the Laker advantage to 2-0 with his win at No. 3 singles versus Colten Clark, 6-4, 6-4.

Then, Ashland battled back with three consecutive points at Nos. 2, 1 and 4, to seize a 3-2 lead.

Sklyarov then evened the match total at 4-4 with his victory over Tche Kun Teng, 6-3, 6-2. That set the stage for Schmedding, who outlasted Grzeslo, 6-4, 6-4.

Mercyhurst will return to action on Sunday, Mar. 3, with a non-conference match at Tusculum.


Mercyhurst 4, Ashland 3
DOUBLES
1 – Brdicka/Phelps (A) def. McCooey/Amilleta Gonzalez, 7-6 (4)
2 – Fraser/Sklyarov (M) def. Soni/Grzeslo, 7-5
3 – Schmedding/Zimmer (M) def. Tche/Clark, 7-6 (5)
SINGLES
1 – Soni (A) def. McCooey, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 10-4
2 – Brdicka (A) def. Fraser 6-3, 5-7, 10-8
3 – Amilleta Gonzalez (M) def. Clark, 6-4, 6-4
4 – Phelps (A) def. Yaron, 6-3, 6-4
5 – Sklyarov (M) def. Tche, 6-3, 6-2
6 – Schmedding (M) def. Grzeslo, 6-4, 6-4
ORDER OF FINISH
Doubles – 2,1,3
Singles – 3,2,1,4,5,6