Score: Elmira College 9, Utica College 0
Records: Elmira (7-5, 1-0 E8), Utica (0-2, 0-2 E8)
Location: Murray Athletic Center Tennis Dome – Pine Valley, NY
 
Pine Valley, NY -- The Elmira College men's tennis team opened its Empire 8 Conference schedule with an impressive 9-0 win over visiting Utica College at the Murray Athletic Center this afternoon. With the win, Elmira has won two consecutive conference-opening matches for the first time in over 16 years.
 
Elmira's high energy was evident in the early goings of today's match, especially in doubles play, as the Soaring Eagles dropped just four games en route to sweeping the doubles matches. Austin Mansell '16 and Chris Konow '18 put EC's first point on the board with a routine 8-0 win at second doubles, while Yu Ikeda '16 and Yaniv Kogan '18 quickly followed with an 8-2 triumph at the third spot. EC's top doubles team of Satchal Waters '16 and Patrick Tracey '18 wrapped up doubles action with an identical 8-2 victory to give the Soaring Eagles a 3-0 lead entering singles play.
 
Heading into singles action, it looked as though there would be a handful of tough matchups, especially in the top half of the lineup. However, the Elmira men showcased the quality of tennis they are capable of by winning all six singles matches, five coming in straight sets.
 
Tracey was the first EC player to finish, scoring a 6-0, 6-0 win at fourth singles. With the win, Tracey sits on nine singles victories this season, which is tied for third-most in single-season program history. Waters finished just moments later, securing the win for the Purple and Gold with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at the second spot.
 
Mansell was the next Soaring Eagle to finish, as the West Lebanon, NH, native produced a 6-0, 6-4 win at the third position. The senior captain rolled in the first set, but found himself in a battle for the second. Thankfully, Mansell's steadiness and versatility proved to be too much for his Utica counterpart, as he secured his eight singles win of the year.
 
The match at fifth singles was the next to finish, as second-year talent Konow made quick work of his opponent with a 6-0, 6-0 win. With the win, Konow continues to lead Elmira this season in total wins with 16.
 
Today's most exciting match without a doubt took place at first singles, as fans were treated to a fantastic brand of college tennis between Elmira's Ikeda and Utica's Kevin Vo. Ikeda controlled the first set with a solid return game and even better net play, winning the opening frame 6-2. The second set saw Vo earn an early break, one he would never relinquish, evening the match at one set apiece.
 
With the overall match already decided, the two players went to a 10-point super tiebreaker to decide the winner. Ikeda was able to get a mini-break early in the super breaker, which eventually helped him take an 8-6 lead late in the set. He would go on to win the next point, but an errant shot from the baseline spoiled his first match point, bringing the score to 9-7. On his second match point, Ikeda ripped a powerful serve that was sprayed wide by Vo, handing Ikeda his third singles victory of the year, 6-2, 4-6, 10-7.
 
Kogan capped the day with a clinical 6-0, 6-0 dismantling of his opponent at the sixth spot, sealing Elmira's 9-0 triumph over the Pioneers.
 
In His Own Words…
Head Coach Tom Linhart shares his thoughts on today's win…
"Today I thought was the first time in a long time we played a complete match. I thought the intensity, focus, and tactics from doubles to the last singles match were on par today, which really showed the in the scores."
 
Coach Linhart reflects on EC starting Empire 8 play with a victory…
"I think it has been a long season, much longer than we have played in the past. So, to finally get into Empire 8 play has been great and to play as well as we did, especially with Nazareth tomorrow, is setting us up for another solid run over the next four weeks."
 
Coach Linhart talks briefly on Ikeda's three-set win at first singles…
"Yu didn't think too much today, he just went out and played, which is nice to see. It's something we have been practicing throughout the week with all of the guys. I think it was nice to see him swing out and just compete, which is something that has held him back in some matches earlier this year. But I thought played great match against a really good player today."
 
Coach Linhart shares his thoughts on tomorrow's meeting with Nazareth…
"I think it's a good matchup for us. We had good results against them last year and it's going to be some pretty similar matchups this year, but Nazareth is a team that is well-coached, competes well, and is hard to beat. I think we will battle them hard and take it to them, but it is not a match we can overlook by any means."
 
Scores
Singles
1. Yu Ikeda (ELMIRA) def. Kevin Vo (UTICA) 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (10-7)
2. Satchal Waters (ELMIRA) def. Raphael Warnon (UTICA) 6-1, 6-1
3. Austin Mansell (ELMIRA) def. Matt Rogers (UTICA) 6-0, 6-4
4. Patrick Tracey (ELMIRA) def. Jacob Nigolian (UTICA) 6-0, 6-0
5. Chris Konow (ELMIRA) def. Dan Angotti (UTICA) 6-0, 6-0
6. Yaniv Kogan (ELMIRA) def. Edgar Aguilar (UTICA) 6-0, 6-0
 
Doubles 
1. Waters/Tracey (ELMIRA) def. Vo/Warnon (UTICA) 8-2
2. Mansell/Konow (ELMIRA) def. Rogers/Nigolian (UTICA) 8-0
3. Ikeda/Kogan (ELMIRA) def. Angotti/Aguilar (UTICA) 8-2
 
News and Notes

• Elmira improved to 7-2 in home matches this year.
• EC opened Empire 8 play with a win for just the second time in the last 16 seasons (2015 & 2016).
• Tracey moved into a five-way tie for third place in program history for single-season singles victories (9).
• Waters became the first player in EC history to reach the 60-win plateau; he sits on 61 total wins.
• Waters also became the third player in program history to record 30-or-more singles victories, joining Gabe Cortes '11 (37) and Mansell (31).
• Mansell's two wins brought his career total to 59, the second-highest total in program history.
• Ikeda and Kogan logged their team-leading eighth doubles win, which is tied for fifth-most in school history.
• Konow logged his 15th career singles victory, which placed the second-year talent in 10th place in the EC record book.

 
Up Next
Elmira returns to the courts tomorrow afternoon, when the Soaring Eagles travel to take on the Golden Flyers of Nazareth College. Tomorrow's E8 bout is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Mendon Tennis & Pool Club in Pittsford, NY.