KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- In a matchup of two closely paired teams, Kutztown emerged with a 5-2 victory over West Chester in a PSAC men's tennis match at the Keystone Courts Wednesday afternoon.
The Golden Bears narrowly missed out on the doubles point when WCU took third doubles in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (6) to break a 1-1 deadlock.
Gonzalo Barcelo (San Pedro, Argentina/Nuestra Senora del Socorro) and
Joaquin Perez (Pachuca, Mexico/Escuela Americana) were victorious at No. 1 for KU, defeating Andrea Zequeira and Cesar DeJesus-Morales, 6-3.
Singles proved to be a marathon, with 5-of-6 matches going to a third set. Kutztown (5-5, 1-2 PSAC) overcame first set losses in three of them and got wins from the top two flights to take the match and signal their intention as a PSAC Tournament contender.
Perez was the only player that didn't have to go to a third set, winning No. 2 over Zequeira 6-1, 6-0. No. 4
Emmitt Robinson (Ingersoll, Ontario/Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute) followed with a 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Aidan Cashin to give Kutztown a 2-1 lead.
Sebastian Arizpe (Puebla, Mexico/Colegio Humboldt de Puebla) rallied from a 6-1 opening set loss to down DeJesus-Morales 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 5 and
Neal Devkaran (Fairfax, Va./Paul VI Catholic) did the same at No. 3 to beat Lucas Henke 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Barcelo clinched the match for the Maroon and Gold by holding off Felix Weber in a thrilling third-set tiebreaker at No. 1, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4).
Wednesday's match against the Golden Rams (1-5, 0-1 PSAC) was moved up from Saturday due to forecasted rain this weekend. Kutztown is scheduled to face Penn State Harrisburg in a non-conference match Friday at the Keystone Courts, weather permitting.
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