West Chester’s Men Fall to Mercyhurst to Open Conference Play, 7-2
ERIE, Pa. – West Chester University's men's tennis fell in its first match of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play, dropping a 7-2 decision to host Mercyhurst at the Pennbriar Raquet Club Saturday afternoon. The conference matchup marked the beginning of the spring schedule for the Golden Rams (0-3, 0-1 PSAC), who are ranked ninth regionall by the ITA. Mercyhurst was ranked third in the Atlantic Region entering Saturday's tilt. The Lakers jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in doubles with a pair of 8-2 decisions. However, West Chester's Charlie Rushing (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) and Aiden Henken (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) were able to capture a 9-7 win to cut the deficit to 2-1 after wrapping up doubles. In singles, Rushing carried over his success from earlier in the day to earn his second victory. He was a 6-4, 3-6, 10 (11) winner over Mercyhurst senior Joaquin Aguilera. Sr., Lucas Von der Heyde (Exton, Pa./Great Valley) dropped a tough one to Nenad Terzic, 6-2, 6-2. Teammate, Keanu Travelino (Kailua, Hawai'i/W. Hawai'i Explorations Acad.) was a 6-0, 6-1 loser to Cormac McCooey. Mercyhurst (5-4, 1-0) took the other three single matches against the Golden Rams. The match against Kylil Curry (Coatesville, Pa. / Coatesville) clinched it for the Lakers with a 6-0, 6-1 decision. Fellow junior, Gerald Mars (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) fell 6-0, 6-0, while Henken lost by a final score of 6-1, 6-1. West Chester returns to action tomorrow for another conference matchup with Edinboro to complete its two-game swing before heading down to Florida.
