ERIE, Pa. -- The Kutztown University men's tennis team is looking to get back to the top of the PSAC standings. Sunday, the Golden Bears went up against the team currently there.
Despite a hard-fought battle in doubles, four-time defending PSAC champion Edinboro picked up the sweep and went on to a 7-0 victory over KU indoors at the Westwood Racquet Club.
Kutztown (10-2, 0-1 PSAC) came close to turning doubles in its favor at flights one and three. With the Fighting Scots having already claimed No. 2 doubles by a 6-2 score,
Henrique Rocha (Jaticua, Brazil/Escola SEB Maceio) and
Joaquin Perez (Pachuca, Mexico/Escuela Americana) took Rocco Palombarini and Leon Grassnickel to the wire at No. 1 before falling 6-4 as the hosts secured the doubles point.
The duo of
Terrell Arejola (Quezon City, Philippines/Southville International School and Colleges) and
Luis Lopes (Piracicaba, Brazil/Colegio Saber) led Edinboro's (9-5-1, 3-0 PSAC) Arsen Tabaldyev and Guillermo Rodriguez 5-2 at No. 3, but the hosts rallied for a 7-5 victory to seize all momentum heading into singles.
Head coach
Pete Smith's team once again showed its gritty and resilient nature against the PSAC's elite program.
Emmitt Robinson (Ingersoll, Ontario/Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute) won seven games off Tabaldyev in a 6-4, 6-3 loss at No.4, while Perez gave regionally ranked No. 19 Thomas Buchard everything he had in a 6-4, 6-2 defeat at No. 3.
Arejola picked up four game victories in a 6-2, 6-2 loss to Gerardo Garrido at No. 6.
Kutztown returns home next Saturday, April 5, to face Millersville at 1 p.m. The match is setting up to be a critical one in the race for the PSAC postseason.
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