BOXSCORE – The College of Staten Island men’s tennis team got back in the win column this afternoon, breaking their three-game losing skid thanks to a 6-3 win over Lehman College as part of CUNYAC play in the Bronx, NY. The match, which been rescheduled three times due to weather saw CSI improve to 3-4 overall and 2-2 within the conference, while Lehman fell to 2-7, 1-3, respectively.
CSI got off to a solid start by taking two of the three doubles matches. In a constant theme CSI was powered by the bottom of their lineup. In the No. 3 spot the team of Brandon Nickel and Mitchel Voloshin got out to an 8-1 win and moments later, it was the No. 2 team of Matthew Vesci and Chris Pinto toppling Lehman’s Christopher Valez and Al Joseph Dubouzet, 8-2. CSI lost a heavily competitive No. 1 Doubles flight, but positive momentum would still carry over as CSI was able to take four of the six ensuing singles matchups.
The Dolphins got straight-set wins in flights 4-6, dropping a total of just three games within the sets. Voloshin powered to a 6-0, 6-0, winner at No. 5 to lead the bunch, while freshmen Vesci and Nickel took the wins at Nos. 4 and 6 respectively. In the most heated flight, CSI’s Chris Livoti was locked in a battle with LC’s Jason Strudwick in the pole position. Livoti looked convincing in a 6-3 first set, but Strudwick rallied to take a 6-4 win in the second set. With the match already decided the duo played a third set tie-breaker and Livoti was finally able to pull away, 11-9, clinching the 6-3 final score.
The Dolphins will next take on Sarah Lawrence College on Wednesday, under the lights in the Bronx at 6:30pm.
