ERIE, Pa. -- Kutztown got victories from
Neal Devkaran (Fairfax, Va./Paul VI Catholic) at third singles and
Justin Gincauskas (Mississauga, Ontario/Cawthra Park Secondary) at sixth singles, but ultimately fell to last year's PSAC runners-up Mercyhurst by a 5-2 score at the Westwood Racquet Club Sunday afternoon.
Devkaran came from a set down to defeat Hristo Plasheski in a super tiebreaker. After dropping the first, 6-1, the senior battled back for a 6-3 win in set two to even the match. In the super tiebreaker, Devkaran outlasted Plasheski, 10-7.
Gincauskas won the firset set over Avik Agrawal, 6-3, and was leading 2-0 in the second when his Laker (6-4, 2-0 PSAC) opponent was forced to retire.
Kutztown (4-5, 0-2 PSAC) also got a strong singles showing from freshman
Emmitt Robinson (Ingersoll, Ontario/Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute) at No. 4. Despite falling in straight sets, Robinson pushed Lukas Cabue Valverde to the brink, forcing extra games in the opening set in a 7-5, 6-4 result.
The Bears showed well at first doubles, too, with their top pair of
Gonzalo Barcelo (San Pedro, Argentina/Nuestra Senora del Socorro) and
Joaquin Perez (Pachuca, Mexico/Escuela Americana) capturing four games against Plasheski and Colm Schultz in a 6-4 loss.
"I could not be prouder of the team and the way we played today," said head coach
Wyatt Pauley. "We performed very well in doubles and managed to take two singles matches. I'm excited as we look towards the rest of conference play and am hopeful we can return to the PSAC Tournament this year. The team's hard work is paying off and showing up on the court."
Kutztown is home for a pair of matches next week, welcoming Penn State Harrisburg for a non-conference contest at 3 p.m. Friday and West Chester for a league match Saturday at 1 p.m.
Â
