Pittsford, NY – After starting off strong in doubles and fighting through tough points in singles play the EC Men's Tennis team fell in a heartbreaker, 5-4, to conference rival St. John Fisher College on Tuesday evening at Mendon Racquet Club. The Cardinals improve to 5-9 overall and 3-2 in the Empire 8, while the Soaring Eagles fall to 5-6 overall and 2-4 in conference play.   

EC started off very strong in doubles action taking early leads on all three courts. Satchal Waters '16 and Austin Mansell '16 found their grove early as they took a 7-2 lead on the Cardinals at the third doubles spot. The Cardinals duo of Sheldon Mitchell and Nathaniel Ligon fought back to make it 7-4, but the first years were able to hang on for the win 8-4. Steffan Waters '13 and Steve Carlette '16 were able to stay on top for a while at the second doubles spot. After being down 6-5 the Cardinals second doubles team rallied back to take the last three games and tie the match at 1-1. At the first doubles position it was a back-and-forth battle with Keith Bujak '15 and Sam Pine '14 getting the early leads. The Cardinals first doubles duo of Patrick McGrath and Tommy Quinzi fought back well forcing the EC first doubles team to go to a tiebreaker. In the breaker EC was able to catch a mini break to go up 6-4 and eventually closed it out on Pine's serve giving EC a 2-1 lead going into singles.

In singles it continued to be a battle up and down the line-up with five out of six matches going into three sets. First to finish was Bujak, at fourth singles, who edged out his opponent in a tight three setter 7-6 (7-3), 0-6, 6-1. Next to finish was Pavle Vashakidze '16 who fought well at the first spot, but could not get through falling 6-3, 6-3. Finishing next was Carlette, at third singles, who fell just short in his three setter 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-4. With the match now tied at 3-3 it came down to three singles matches that all went the distance. Finishing next at the second spot was Steffan Waters '13 who rallied back late, but could not keep his momentum going falling 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. After falling in his first set, 7-5, Mansell would be the next to finish rallied from a set down to win 6-3, 6-2 and tie the match at 4-4.The match came down to Satchal Waters '16 at the fifth spot, who was looking to rally from a set down. After dropping the first set 6-2, he came back with a 6-3 second set victory. In the final set he controlled the rallies, but fell just short dropping a close 6-3 final set.

The Soaring Eagles will return to action Saturday when they host Hartwick College in conference action at the Murray Athletic Center. Match is set to start at 1:00 p.m.