SELINSGROVE, Pa. – In the team's closest match of the year, Lebanon Valley held off a late Susquehanna rally and defeated the Crusaders 4-3 in MAC Commonwealth Conference men's tennis action Saturday afternoon.
With the win, Lebanon Valley stayed perfect at 9-0 on the season and pushed its Commonwealth Conference record to 5-0, as the Flying Dutchmen won their ninth straight Commonwealth match, dating back to last season.
Susquehanna fell to 2-2 and 2-2 in conference play.
The Dutchmen led 3-1, but the Crusaders rallied with wins at No. 2 and No. 5 singles to tie the match 3-3. But LVC junior Zach Cook (Schaefferstown, Pa./ELCO) won 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 at No. 6 singles to clinch the Dutchmen's victory.
LVC opened the match by taking two of three doubles matches to earn the doubles point. Junior Ryan Wendell (Shiloh, N.J./Cumberland Regional) and freshman Stuart Hartman (Hershey, Pa./Lower Dauphin) won at No. 1 doubles to extend their undefeated record to 9-0 on the season. Senior Andy Platt (York, Pa./York Suburban) and freshman Erik Vargo (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) captured an 8-2 win at second doubles to improve to 8-1 on the season.
In singles play, Vargo scored a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 3 and Platt won 6-3, 6-4 at No. 4. Both players pushed their undefeated records to 9-0.
Cook also remained undefeated on the season with his victory, winning his eighth straight match to start the season.
Lebanon Valley returns to action on Tuesday when it visits the University of Scranton in a MAC non-conference action.
Singles
1. Karl Rosen (S) def. Ryan Wendell, 6-1, 7-5
2. Steve Kane (S) def. Chris Keeney, 0-6, 6-2, 6-3
3. Erik Vargo (LV) def. Adam Marichak, 6-1, 6-0
4. Andy Platt (LV) def. Ofir Tomer, 6-3, 6-4
5. Justin Rhood (S) def. Stuart Hartman, 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-2
6. Zach Cook (LV) def. Pete Kokolus, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
Doubles
1. Hartman/Wendell (LV) def. Rosen/Marichak, 9-7
2. Vargo/Platt (LV) def. Kane/Kokolus, 8-2
3. Tomer/Rhood (S) def. Keeney/Saming Rattanavongkoth
[Photo - Junior Zach Cook, whose win at No. 6 singles clinched Lebanon Valley's 4-3 win at Susquehanna on Saturday]
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