Posted: February 16, 2007
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Following a layoff of nearly two weeks, Lehigh returned to the court on Friday, but the Mountain Hawks were unable to pick up their first victory of the season, falling to Richmond 5-2 at the Lewis Tennis Center. The Brown and White dropped three tough doubles matches, and won just two singles contests as they fall to 0-4 on the season, while the Spiders improve to 3-2.
The Mountain Hawks hung tough in doubles play, with the closest match coming at third doubles where sophomores Jon-Michael Caminiti and Michael Gordon forced a tiebreaker before falling to Chris Louis and William Minter 8-7.
In singles play, senior captain Alfredo Fernandez-Concha found his stroke, dispatching Doug Baker in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 at first singles. Lehigh’s other point came from sixth singles, with senior Evan Volkman netting a victory after Minter retired while trailing 0-1 in the second set after winning the first set 6-4.
Richmond earned victories at second, third, fourth and fifth singles. The closest of those matches was at No. 4 singles, where Matt Stillwagon held off Gordon 7-5, 7-5.
The Mountain Hawks will return to the court on Friday, Feburary 23, when they host the Seawolves of Stony Brook, beginning at 4:00 pm.
Doubles
1. Belakhlef/Farina (UR) def. Fernandez-Concha/Nespoli (LU) 8-3
2. Banker/McNally (UR) def. Balshi/Herbert (LU) 8-5
3. Louis/Minter (UR) def. Caminiti/Gordon (LU) 8-7 (5)
Singles
1. Alfredo Fernandez-Concha (LU) def. Doug Baker (UR) 6-2, 6-3
2. Chris Louis (RU) def. Drew Balshi (LU) 6-0, 6-1
3. Sami Belakhlef (RU) def. Brent Herbert (LU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Matt Stillwagon (RU) def. Michael Gordon (LU) 7-5, 7-5
5. Matt Farina (RU) def. Jon-Michael Caminiti (LU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Evan Volkman (LU) def. William Minter (UR) 4-6, 1-0, retired