Ewing, NJ...The College of New Jersey men's tennis team took on nationally-ranked Skidmore College on Saturday and challenged the Thoroughbreds before eventually falling 6-3 on Saturday.
The loss dropped the Lions to 4-2 on the season, while 22
nd-ranked Skidmore improved to 7-3.
TCNJ got off to a good start as
Stewart Fernandez (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) and
Howard Telson (Edison, NJ/J.P. Stevens) secured an 8-4 win at first doubles, but the Thoroughbreds rallied to win the other two points in doubles play.
At second doubles,
TJ Riley (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Moorestown) and
Steven Fernandez (West Windsor, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) put forth a strong effort despite not getting the outcome they were looking for. The Lion tandem fell 8-7, with the final point coming in the tiebreaker, 7-5.
TCNJ secured two more points in singles as Riley won 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) and first singles and
Steven Fernandez handled his opponent in the second position by the scores of 6-3, 6-1.
Skidmore won the final four points in singles, but the match at third singles turned out to be the longest of the day.
Marc Nichols (Lawrenceville, NJ/Princeton) won the opening set for the Lions 7-6, taking the tiebreaker 7-3. Skidmore's Mike Ransom tied the match up in the second set with the pair again going to a tiebreaker with Ransom coming away with the 7-6 score after winning the breaker 7-5. Ransom was able to then claim the final set 6-0 to win the match, offsetting the valiant effort by Nichols.
TCNJ remains at home on Sunday hosting Franklin & Marshall College at noon.
#22 Skidmore College 6, The College of New Jersey 3
Singles competition
1.
TJ Riley (TCNJ) def. Oliver Loutsenko (SKID) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
2.
Steven Fernandez (TCNJ) def. Luke Granger (SKID) 6-3, 6-1
3. Miles Ransom (SKID) def.
Marc Nichols (TCNJ) 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-0
4. Alec Hoblitzell (SKID) def.
Howard Telson (TCNJ) 7-5, 6-2
5. Danny Knight (SKID) def.
Stewart Fernandez (TCNJ) 6-3, 7-5
6. Gabe Steerman (SKID) def.
Gabe Allen (TCNJ) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles competition
1.
Howard Telson/
Stewart Fernandez (TCNJ) def. Oliver Loutsenko/Alec Hoblitzell (SKID) 8-4
2. Danny Knight/Miles Ransom (SKID) def.
TJ Riley/
Steven Fernandez (TCNJ) 8-7 (7-5)
3. Max Bevan/Luke Granger (SKID) def.
Bill Carrig/
Marc Nichols (TCNJ) 8-5