Thom Swarr

Men's Tennis 4/24/2015 8:57:00 PM

Merchant Marine comes back to beat men's tennis

Results

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – Elizabethtown couldn't hold onto a 2-1 lead Friday, falling to Merchant Marine, 5-4, in its Landmark finale at the Alumni Courts.

The Blue Jays grabbed wins in two of the three doubles flights, but it was the conference tournament-hopeful Mariners (11-4, 4-3 Landmark) that showed strength in singles, winning 4-of-6 matches.

Ryan Caris and Nathan Dowling answered USMMA's No. 1 doubles win by doubling up Jeremy Guettlein and Matthew Schwartz, 8-4, at No. 2.

Elizabethtown (4-12, 2-6 Landmark) took its only lead when freshman Michael Yost and junior Evan Hinkley emerged from No. 3 doubles with an 8-5 victory over Josh Levitas and Alec De Ryckere.

Jake McDonough and James Hicks, with 22 singles wins between them coming into play Friday, dominated the No. 1 and 2 matches to put Merchant Marine back in front.

No. 1 McDonough fended off Michael Cannon 6-1, 6-4 and Hicks slid past Alex Machalick 6-1, 6-2.

The Mariners would gain four straight singles decisions to clinch the match and strengthen their playoff prospects. USMMA qualifies for the conference tournament with a win over Scranton tomorrow or a 5-4 loss.

Caris and Hinkley brought the Blue Jays within one at the finish. Caris outlasted Guettlein in three sets 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 and Hinkley recorded a 6-1, 7-6 (6) victory over Schwartz.

Elizabethtown, which will finish with an overall record of 4-12, caps the season tomorrow with a non-conference exhibition match against Harford Community College at 1:30 p.m.

The match will count for Harford, but individual and team win-loss records for the Blue Jays will not be affected under NCAA bylaw 31.3.4.1.1 (countable competition), because Harford is a two-year college.

Merchant Marine 5, Elizabethtown 4
April 24, 2015 at Elizabethtown, Pa. (Alumni Courts)

Singles competition

1. Jake McDonough (USMMA) def. Michael Cannon (ETWN-M) 6-1, 6-4

2. James Hicks (USMMA) def. Alex Machalick (ETWN-M) 6-1, 6-2

3. Josh Levitas (USMMA) def. Michael Yost (ETWN-M) 7-5, 6-2

4. Ryan Caris (ETWN-M) def. Jeremy Guettlein (USMMA) 6-0, 4-6, 6-4

5. Alec De Ryckere (USMMA) def. Nathan Dowling (ETWN-M) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1

6. Evan Hinkley (ETWN-M) def. Matthew Schwartz (USMMA) 6-1, 7-6 (8-6)

Doubles competition

1. Jake McDonough/James Hicks (USMMA) def. Michael Cannon/Alex Machalick (ETWN-M) 8-3

2. Ryan Caris/Nathan Dowling (ETWN-M) def. Jeremy Guettlein/Matthew Schwartz (USMMA) 8-4

3. Michael Yost/Evan Hinkley (ETWN-M) def. Josh Levitas/Alec De Ryckere (USMMA) 8-5

Match Notes

Merchant Marine 11-4, 4-3 Landmark

Elizabethtown 4-12, 2-6 Landmark

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,1,3,5,6,4)

Landmark Conference match

T-3:25 A-20

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Players Mentioned

Michael Cannon: 6' 0"; Senior

Nathan Dowling: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Evan Hinkley: 5' 7"; Junior

Alex Machalick: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Michael Yost: 5' 9"; Freshman

Ryan Caris: 5' 9"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Michael Cannon
: 6' 0"; Senior

Nathan Dowling
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Evan Hinkley
: 5' 7"; Junior

Alex Machalick
: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Michael Yost
: 5' 9"; Freshman

Ryan Caris
: 5' 9"; Sophomore