Patrick Tracey '18 went 4-2 in a trio of Empire 8 Conference matches this past week, helping the Soaring Eagles keep their playoff hopes alive with league victories over Utica College and Alfred University. The junior netter picked up a pair of straight-set singles wins at the No. 3 position against the Pioneers and Saxons, the latter of which capped a season-high five-match singles winning streak. All five wins during that stretch came in straight sets, four of which were against conference opponents. Aside from a setback to No. 39-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday, Tracey teamed up with rookie Theo Tran '20 for a pair of convincing doubles victories in which the duo won 16-of-17 games played at the No. 1 position.
Tracey leads the Soaring Eagles this season in total wins (19) and singles victories (10). His 19 total wins are tied for fifth-most in single-season program history with former five-time E8 All-Conference honoree, Gabe Cortes '11, and are just two shy of moving him into a tie for first place. Tracey's 10 singles victories are also tied for fourth in EC history and are three shy of tying his own record-setting total of 13, which he produced during his sophomore season in 2015-16.
The Bardonia, New York, native will look to continue his strong play this week, as the Purple and Gold take on Houghton College and St. John Fisher College in a pair of league matches. Both contests are must-wins for the Soaring Eagles, who look to move from fifth place in the conference standings and into a top-four playoff spot. EC hosts the Highlanders of Houghton in the team's home finale on Tuesday, April 25, at 4:00 p.m. at the Murray Athletic Center, before traveling to Rochester, New York, to take on the Cardinals of St. John Fisher in the 2016-17 regular-season finale on Saturday, April 29, at 1:00 p.m.
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