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Men’s tennis currently sits at 3-3 after winning three matches on Hilton Head Island.

ENC’s men’s tennis team begins their 2013 season with a 3-3 record after winning three times during their annual trip to Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Victories for the team included matches against Penn State Behrend, York College of Pennsylvania, and Lebanon Valley with scores of 8-1, 6-3, and 8-1, respectively.

MIT handed men’s tennis an 8-1 loss on Feb. 26 before the team’s trip to Hilton Head Island.

The two losses during the spring tour on Hilton Head Island included a 6-3 loss to Catholic University and a 9-0 loss against Elizabethtown College.

ENC’s first win of the season took place on Monday, March 4, against Penn State Behrend. The Lions took a win at every slot except No. 3 singles. No. 1,, No. 2, and No. 3 doubles finished their matches 8-2, 8-4, and 8-2, respectively. No. 1, No. 2, No. 4, and No. 6 singles all won in two sets, while No. 5 singles, freshman Kevin Paterno (Buenos Aires, Argentina), battled out a three-set win, 6-0, 6-7, 6-4.

On Tuesday, March 5, ENC triumphed again in their second match on Hilton Head Island against York. Each doubles team won and earned points, giving the Lions an early 3-0 lead. No. 1, No. 2, and No. 5 singles claimed points for ENC in singles competition, securing the overall win, 6-3.

ENC was met with their first loss on the third day of their spring tour. No. 1 and No. 2 doubles won their matches, 8-4 and 8-6, respectively, giving ENC a 2-1 start. The singles matches took a sharp turn against ENC. Catholic University won at each singles position except No. 2 singles, claiming five more points and the overall 6-3 win. Sophomore Sam McKay-Corkum (Rehoboth, Mass.) claimed the only singles win after his opponent forfeited.

The fourth and final day of the spring tour challenged ENC with a doubleheader. In the morning match, the Lions lost 9-0 to Elizabethtown.

ENC rebounded well in their second match of the day in an 8-1 victory over Lebanon Valley.  No. 2 and No. 3 doubles both won their matches 8-1, giving ENC a 2-1 advantage. Men’s tennis claimed all six points in singles competition, improving their record to 3-2 during their Hilton Head trip.

Notable matches against Lebanon Valley include junior Nick Thompson (York, Pa.) battling out a three-set match at No. 6 singles with a 10-5 tiebreaker and sophomore Tyler Perron’s (Plympton, Mass.) win at No. 4 singles in three sets.

Perron described his opponent as a “wall,” explaining that he was a player who doesn’t give up points without a fight. Perron said the points consisted of 20 to 30 shot rallies, which made his second singles match of the day long and exhausting.

Thinking his team possibly needed his match win for an ENC win, he continued playing hard. After winning the third-set tiebreaker, 10-8, and finally winning his match, Perron says he was ecstatic and relieved.

“This win was incredibly huge for me, and I will use it as fuel for our upcoming season,” said Perron.

ENC continues their season at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, with a non-conference match against Stonehill College. Men’s tennis hosts their first home match March 27, against Endicott College.