HOUGHTON, NY — In a conference clash at the Kerr-Pegula Field House on Wednesday afternoon, the Houghton University men's tennis team fell to Alfred University with a final score of 6-1. Despite the team loss, the Highlanders showcased resilience in several tightly contested individual matches.
Doubles Highlights
Houghton found success at the #3 doubles position, where the duo of Jonas Likens and Benjamin Unger delivered a commanding performance, defeating Alfred's Matthew Bittel and Josh Erickson 6-2. However, Alfred secured the doubles point by taking the other two flights. Following the document's layout:
Singles Action
The Highlanders were led in singles play by Jason Murphy, who earned a gritty come-from-behind victory at the #5 singles flight. After dropping the first set 6-3, Murphy rallied to take the second 6-4 and clinched the match with a 10-4 win in the third-set tiebreaker.
Houghton narrowly missed out on points in two other three-set marathons:
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Eben Schilke (#2 Singles): Schilke took the opening set 6-4 against Andre Lopez Jimenez but ultimately fell in a 10-7 third-set tiebreaker
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Caleb Hilsher (#6 Singles): Hilsher opened his match with a 6-1 set win, but Alfred's Josh Erickson bounced back to take the next two sets 6-0, 6-1 (with the final set scored 6-2 in the source data).
At the top of the ladder, Rune Camps fell 6-1, 6-1 at #1 singles. Jonas Likens kept things competitive at #3 singles before falling 7-6, 6-1, and Benjamin Unger dropped his match at the #4 spot 6-3, 6-0.
Looking Ahead
Houghton (4-9, 1-5 Empire 8) will look to bounce back this weekend as they step out of conference play. The Highlanders travel to take on Grove City in a non-conference match on Saturday, April 18 at 1 p.m.
