Score: St. John Fisher College 5, Elmira College 4
Records: Elmira (9-10, 3-5 E8), St. John Fisher (9-8, 5-3 E8)
Location: Murray Athletic Center Tennis Dome – Pine Valley, NY
 
Pine Valley, NY -- The Elmira College men's tennis team wrapped up the 2015-16 regular season this afternoon with an Empire 8 Conference match against St. John Fisher College at the Murray Athletic Center Tennis Dome in Pine Valley, NY. Despite a strong performance in singles from the Soaring Eagles, Elmira would fall to the Cardinals by the slimmest of margins in today's season finale, 5-4.
 
At the conclusion of today's match, Elmira honored its graduating members of the Class of 2016, Satchal Waters '16 and Austin Mansell '16. Waters and Mansell ended their collegiate careers as two of the most successful players to don the Purple and Gold. Waters finished his four-year career as Elmira's all-time wins leader (65) and as the program's all-time leader in doubles wins (33). Mansell capped his career with the Soaring Eagles as the program's second all-time leader in wins (64), singles wins (35), and doubles victories (30).
 
Fisher jumped out to a 1-0 lead in today's conference bout, following an 8-0 sweep at the top spot. However, Elmira evened the match shortly after with an 8-6 win by Patrick Tracey '18 and Chris Konow '18 at the number two position. Tracey and Konow led 5-2 early in the match, but the Cardinals won four straight to take a late 6-5 lead. Thankfully EC's duo rattled off three consecutive games to win it 8-6. With the win, Konow became Elmira's single-season wins leader in doubles with 11 victories.
 
Yaniv Kogan '18 and Jordan Curtis '19 found themselves in a tight battle at third doubles, which would prove to be a pivotal match in today's outcome. Kogan and Curtis trailed late in the match, 6-5, but were able to break Fisher and get a hold of their own to pull ahead 7-6. The Cardinals answered with a break and consolidated the break with a hold to put Fisher one game away from the win.
 
EC's third doubles duo extended the match with a break of serve at love, forcing a tiebreaker. In the breaker, Elmira trailed 5-3, but would once again rally and win three straight points to go up 6-5, giving the Soaring Eagles a match point. Unfortunately, EC dropped the next three points, as the Cardinals claimed an 8-6 win to put Fisher up 2-1 in the match.
 
Singles play was also very tightly contested from top to bottom. Fisher would go up 4-1 on Elmira with wins at first and second singles, however, EC's Tracey brought the match score to 4-2 with a straight set victory at the third spot, 6-4, 7-6 (6). The win for Tracey brought the sophomore standout's singles win total this season to 13, making him Elmira's all-time leader in single-season singles victories.
 
The Cardinals clinched the match with a 6-4, 6-4 win at fourth singles. With the match decided, two matches were still left to play at positions five and six. Kogan was a straight set winner at the five spot, topping his opponent by a 6-2, 6-2 final. Curtis picked up his third win of the year, as the rookie prevailed at number six singles 7-6 (5), 6-4.
 
Scores
Singles
1. Kevin Kulawiec (SJFC) def. Satchal Waters (ELMIRA) 7-5, 6-4
2. Quinn Magiera (SJFC) def. Austin Mansell (ELMIRA) 6-2, 6-1
3. Patrick Tracey (ELMIRA) def. Jacob Zarzycki (SJFC) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
4. Christian Barnes (SJFC) def. Chris Konow (ELMIRA) 6-4, 6-4
5. Yaniv Kogan (ELMIRA) def. Jarrett Pelton (SJFC) 6-2, 6-2
6. Jordan Curtis (ELMIRA) def. Adam Moran (SJFC) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
 
Doubles
1. Kulawiec/Magiera (SJFC) def. Waters/Mansell (ELMIRA) 8-0
2. Konow/Tracey (ELMIRA) def. Zarzycki/Moran (SJFC) 8-6
3. Harper/Miller (SJFC) def. Kogan/Curtis (ELMIRA) 9-8 (8-6)
 
News and Notes

• Elmira ends the year with a 9-10 overall record and a 3-5 mark in conference matches.
• EC concludes the 2015-16 season with an 8-4 record in home matches.
• With 13 singles wins this season, Patrick Tracey became Elmira's single-season singles wins leader.
• Chris Konow also etched his name in the EC record book with his program-leading 11th doubles victory.