Results
The University of Scranton men's tennis team was unable to rally from a big early deficit in a 5-4 loss to Messiah College on Thursday afternoon at Royal Courts.
Scranton (3-7) lost all three doubles matches, but came back to win four singles matches, but it wasn't quite enough in the loss to the Falcons (4-6). Messiah took two of the first three singles matches to be completed to thwart any comeback hopes the Royals had.
Scranton received singles victories from senior Ryan Bair (Leola, Pa./Lancaster Catholic), junior Kevin Murphy (Greenbelt, Md./Gonzaga College H.S.), sophomore Matt Prendergast (Flanders, N.J./Mt. Olive) and freshman Keller McGurrin (Clarks Summit, Pa./Scranton Prep).
McGurrin rolled to a 6-2, 6-3 victory at no. 1 singles to get Scranton on the board before the Falcons secured the match with wins at no. 6 and no. 4 singles. Bair rallied for a 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-6) win at no. 5 singles, Murphy picked up a 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (10-8) win at no. 3, and Prendergast earned a 6-2, 1-6, 1-0 (10-8) win at no. 2.
Scranton is back in action on Friday when the Royals face Elizabethtown in a Landmark Conference match at 3:30 p.m. at Birchwood Tennis & Fitness Club in South Abington, Pa.
--ROYALS--
