Score: Pennsylvania College of Technology 6, Elmira College 3
Records: Penn College (2-5), Elmira (0-3)
Location: Penn College Tennis Courts – Williamsport, Pa.
 
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- A slow start in doubles action proved to be the difference this evening, as the Elmira College men's tennis team came out on the wrong end of a 6-3 decision to the Wildcats of the Pennsylvania College of Technology. With the win, Penn College improved to 2-5 on the year while the Soaring Eagles remain in search of their first victory of the season at 0-3.
 
Penn College opened today's match by sweeping all three doubles contests to take a hefty 3-0 advantage entering singles action. The most competitive doubles match of the evening took place at the top doubles spot, as Patrick Tracey '18 and Stephen Gervase '20 fell by a single break of serve, 8-6.
 
In singles action, Elmira and Penn College split the six matches evenly as the Purple and Gold claimed victories at positions one through three, and the Wildcats earned wins in the bottom half of the lineup. All six contests were completed in straight sets.
 
Tracey continued his strong start to the 2018 spring season with his third consecutive win at the No. 1 singles position by a 7-5, 6-2 score line. The Bardonia, New York, native eked out a nail-biting first set, 7-5, thanks to a late break of serve. Tracey rode the momentum from his first set win with a dominant second set performance, as he downed his counterpart from Penn College, 6-2, to clinch the match.
 
Gervase picked up a win at the No. 2 singles spot, his first singles victory of the season, by a 6-1, 6-4 score. Gervase rolled in the opening set, before edging his opponent by a single break of serve in the second set. The win was Gervase's first at the second spot – the highest position he has won at during his two-year career – after earning wins at fourth, fifth and sixth during his rookie debut in 2016-17.
 
Rounding out EC's winning singles players was third-year netter Jordan Curtis '19, who earned a hard-fought 6-4, 6-4 victory at the No. 3 position, the highest win of his career as well. The crafty baseliner edged his opponent by one break of serve in each of the two sets to pick up his first singles victory of the 2017-18 campaign.
 
Scores
Singles
1. Patrick Tracey (ELMIRA) def. Luke Whitenight (PCTM) 7-5, 6-2
2. Stephen Gervase (ELMIRA) def. Blake Whitmire (PCTM) 6-1, 6-4
3. Jordan Curtis (ELMIRA) def. Garrett Benner (PCTM) 6-4, 6-4
4. Will Demarco (PCTM) def. Zackarie Stedge (ELMIRA) 6-2, 6-2
5. Joseph Morrin (PCTM) def. Ravi Chauma (ELMIRA) 6-2, 6-4
6. Stephen Helminiak (PCTM) def. Frank Endieveri III (ELMIRA) 6-1, 6-2
 
Doubles
1. Whitenight/Whitmire (PCTM) def. Tracey/Gervase (ELMIRA) 8-6
2. Benner/Demarco (PCTM) def. Chauma/Curtis (ELMIRA) 8-0
3. Adams/Morrin (PCTM) def. Stedge/Endieveri (ELMIRA) 8-4
 
News and Notes

• Tracey is unbeaten in singles action this year with a 3-0 record at the No. 1 position.
• Gervase and Curtis earned their first singles wins of the season at the second and third spots, respectively.
• The win at second singles was the highest of Gervase's career.
• Curtis' win at third singles was also the highest of his career.

 
Up Next
Elmira will look to shake off today's setback, as the Soaring Eagles open Empire 8 Conference play tomorrow afternoon with a 1:00 p.m. bout against the Pioneers of Utica College. The E8 clash is slated to take place on EC's home courts at the Murray Athletic Center.