CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. -- In a match that was moved inside to the Birchwood Tennis Club due to soggy weather, the University of Scranton men's tennis team made history on Saturday against Susquehanna, as the Royals rolled past the River Hawks, 9-0, to remain undefeated in Landmark Conference play for the year.
With the win, Scranton moved to 8-7 overall and a perfect 6-0 in Landmark play, which is now the best start for the Royals in program history in the Landmark Conference (Scranton joined the conference at its inception in before the 2007-08 academic year).
Susquehanna fell to 8-7 and 1-3 in the Landmark with the defeat.
The sweep for Scranton began in doubles play, as all three Royals teams were victorious in their respective matches.
First to win for Scranton was the team of sophomores Brian Harkins (New Fairfield, Conn./New Fairfield) and Christian Aksu (Exton, Pa./West Chester East), who rolled to an 8-3 win at number three doubles. Then at number two, the senior tandem of Michael Pottieger (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing Area) and Matt Prendergast (Flanders, N.J./Mt. Olive) notched an 8-4 win to put the Royals up 2-0 in the contest.
The final match to be decided in doubles was at number one, and the team of junior Keller McGurrin (Clarks Summit, Pa./Scranton Prep) and sophomore Alexander Ochalski (Hopewell, N.J./Hopewell Valley Central) gutted out a 9-8 (7-5) win via a tie-break to put the Royals up 3-0 into singles.
In singles, Scranton continued to dominate, winning all six matches contested.
Becoming two-time winners in singles were McGurrin at number one (6-2, 6-4), Ochalski at number two (6-1, 6-1), Prendergast at number three (6-0, 6-0), Harkins at number four (6-1, 6-1) and Aksu at number six (6-1, 6-1).
The only Royal to not participate in doubles, but in singles, was sophomore Charles Swope (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley), who rolled to a 6-1, 6-1 win at the number five spot to clinch the second straight 9-0 Landmark Conference win for the Royals.
The University of Scranton men's tennis team returns to action on Sunday, hosting Juniata in a battle of the top two teams in the Landmark Conference standings.
The match, which is the regular season finale for Scranton, along with the program's annual Senior Day, begins at 1 p.m. at Royal Courts.
University of Scranton 9, Susquehanna 0
Apr 22, 2017 at Clarks Summit, Pa. (Birchwood Tennis Club)
Singles competition
1. Keller McGurrin (SCRMT17) def. Ben Ornstein (SUSM) 6-2, 6-4
2. Alexander Ochalski (SCRMT17) def. Alexander Dove (SUSM) 6-1, 6-1
3. Matt Prendergast (SCRMT17) def. Alexander Cocolas (SUSM) 6-0, 6-0
4. Charles Swope (SCRMT17) def. Ryan Seibert (SUSM) 6-1, 6-0
5. Brian Harkins (SCRMT17) def. Nicholas Meale (SUSM) 6-1, 6-1
6. Christian Aksu (SCRMT17) def. Ashton Collins (SUSM) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Keller McGurrin/Alexander Ochalski (SCRMT17) def. Ben Ornstein/Ryan Seibert (SUSM) 9-8 (7-5)
2. Matt Prendergast/Michael Pottieger (SCRMT17) def. Alexander Dove/Alexander Cocolas (SUSM) 8-4
3. Brian Harkins/Christian Aksu (SCRMT17) def. Nicholas Meale/Ashton Collins (SUSM) 8-3
Match Notes
Susquehanna 8-7, 1-4 Landmark
University of Scranton 8-7, 6-0 Landmark
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (2,3,1,4,5,6)
--ROYALS--
