Box Score
 
Pine Valley, NY -- The Elmira College men's tennis team (4-2, 1-0 E8) hosted the Highlanders of Houghton College (2-6, 0-2 E8) this afternoon and looked to accomplish something that had not been done before – open Empire 8 Conference play with a win. Elmira saw a 15-year string of E8 opening losses come to an end today as the Purple and Gold claimed a 7-2 win over Houghton, giving the Soaring Eagles their first Empire 8-opening win in program history.
 
Elmira set the tone early in today's match, winning all three doubles matches to take an all-important 3-0 lead.  EC has proven just how valuable doubles matches are this season, going 4-0 when winning at least two doubles points.
 
Austin Mansell '16 and Chris Konow '18 teamed up for an 8-3 win at second doubles, the first of three matches to finish this afternoon.  Keith Bujak '15 and Satchal Waters '16 quickly followed suit, also claiming an 8-3 win but at the first doubles position.  Elmira's third doubles tandem of Scott Ferron '16 and Yaniv Kogan '18 capped off the doubles matches with an 8-4 win, putting the Soaring Eagles ahead 3-0 entering singles play. 
 
Houghton quickly got a point back in singles as Jordan Scott claimed a 6-0, 6-0 win at the fourth spot but Mansell would answer for the Soaring Eagles, as he cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 victory at third singles, putting Elmira on top 4-2 after EC forfeited a match at sixth singles due to injury. For Mansell, his two wins this afternoon marks his eighth consecutive win of the year, a streak that dates back to March 1st. 
 
Elmira only needed one point to clinch their first Empire 8 Conference win of the year but a pesky Highlander squad refused to go away without a fight, as matches at first, second, and fifth singles still hung in the balance.
 
Bujak, who claimed the first set in tiebreaker at first singles, found himself in a battle as his opponent broke twice in the second set for a 6-2 win, forcing a third set.  At second singles, Waters dropped his first set 6-2 and narrowly escaped in the second, edging his opponent 6-4, forcing a third set as well.  Meanwhile at fifth singles, Kogan saw his 5-2 first set lead cut to 5-4, but he ended up pulling it out 6-4 to take a one-set-to-love lead. 
 
With two matches in a third set and another that looked like it could do the same, Elmira desperately searched for a win at any of the three spots. Thankfully, Waters would make quick work of his opponent in the third set, winning it 6-2, clinching a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 come-from-behind victory and Elmira's first Empire 8 win of the season. 
 
Kogan finished shortly after Waters, downing his opponent in the second set with a pair of breaks, winning it 6-4, 6-2.  Bujak continued his third set battle but in the end would prove to be too much as he tallied a 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3 win, putting an exclamation point on a historical 7-2 win for the Soaring Eagles.
 
Elmira will look to make it two Empire 8 wins in a row as they welcome the Saxons of Alfred University tomorrow, March 28th, for a 1:00 p.m. showdown at the Murray Athletic Center.  

Singles Competition
1. Keith Bujak (ELMIRA) def. Brennen Campbell (HOUGHTON) 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-3
2. Satchal Waters (ELMIRA) def. Jordan Crouch (HOUGHTON) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
3. Austin Mansell (ELMIRA) def. Chase Rangel (HOUGHTON) 6-1, 6-2
4. Jordan Scott (HOUGHTON) def. Chris Konow (ELMIRA) 6-0, 6-0
5. Yaniv Kogan (ELMIRA) def. Matt James (HOUGHTON) 6-4, 6-2
6. Conner Barnes (HOUGHTON) def. Scott Ferron (ELMIRA), by forfeit

Doubles Competition
1. Bujak/Waters (ELMIRA) def. Campbell/James (HOUGHTON) 8-3
2. KonowMansell (ELMIRA) def. Crouch/Rangel (HOUGHTON) 8-3
3. Ferron/Kogan (ELMIRA) def. Matthew Greer/Bjorn Webb (HOUGHTON) 8-4