Pine Valley, NY -- In Elmira's final home contest of 2011, the Soaring Eagles hosted the Hawks of Hartwick College in an Empire 8 showdown. The Hawks were looking to pick up their first win of the season while Elmira was hoping to rebound from a tough loss the day prior. On a day that EC honored their fourth year players, it would be their fourth year players would lead Elmira to a close 5-4 victory.
EC took two doubles points on the day, claiming wins at the second and third spots. Third doubles combination Gabe Cortes '11 (Miami, FL -- Miami Country Day School) and Tim Wagner '11 (Corinth, NY -- Corinth) rolled to an 8-0 win. At second doubles Gorav Simlote '13 (Syracuse, NY -- Jamesville-Dewitt) and Sam Pine '14 (Elmira Heights, NY -- Thomas Edison) earned a very close win. During the second doubles match both teams would trade games, exchanging holds and breaks the like. Simlote and Pine would trail 7-6 before holding and earning a late break to go up 8-7 with the match on Simlote's serve. During the service game Hartwick would take an early 40-15 lead but strong net play and clutch serving brought the game back to deuce. Hartwick would still have their chances, earning two break points but would fail to convert on them. EC would take three straight points en route to a 9-7 victory.
Entering singles play Elmira only needed three wins to claim the win. Hartwick would rally in singles action, taking second, third, and fourth singles to go up 4-2 in the match. With their backs against the wall Elmira needed points at first, fifth, and sixth singles for shot at the win.
Cortes would make it 4-3 as he battled his way in a thrilling three-set match at first singles. He dropped the first set, 6-3 but would come back strong in the second, winning 6-2. In the third he would go down a break at 3-1 but would respond with a break of his own to make it 3-2. both players would hold serve continuously, bringing the score to 5-5. Cortes would grind out a very competitive return game to take a crucial 6-5 lead in the final set. Cortes would go on to hold a very competitive service game to take the final set at 7-5.
At fifth singles Pine would claim Elmira's fourth point of the day as he cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 victory. With the match all squared at four a piece, Elmira's hopes of a victory rested with Wagner at the sixth spot.
Wagner chipped and charged his way to a 6-3 first set victory. In the second set he would dig an early hole for himself, going down 4-2. Wagner would hold his serve to make it 4-3 on the changeover. Looking to change the momentum of the match he broke serve and held again to take a late 5-4 lead. He would keep the pressure on, forcing his opponent to deuce. He would then work the deuce point to earn a match point and a chance to seal a 5-4 win for Elmira. On match point Wagner would again work his way to net and finish the match by slamming a volley into the open court giving EC their second E8 win of the year.
With the win the Soaring Eagles improve to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the Empire 8 Conference. Men's Tennis will look to make it two in a row as they travel to take on the Giants of Keystone College on Friday, April 22nd. Match time is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
Elmira College 5 Hartwick College 4
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