By Alex Kurtz
Sports Editor
The Susquehanna men’s tennis team completed a perfect 5–0 fall campaign after dismantling Penn State-Harrisburg 8–1 in Middletown, Pa.
The undefeated fall season was the first for Susquehanna’s men’s tennis team since 2015.
“I think our experience shined through this fall,” senior Ben Ornstein said. “It’s a huge advantage over younger teams because at this point, we’ve seen it all.”
Leading the way for the River Hawks in doubles play were the senior duos of Alexander Dove and Alexander Cocolas, who won their match 8–6, and Ryan Seibert and Ornstein, who followed suit with an 8–5 victory.
“In that match, we started off extremely hot,” Ornstein said. “We were hitting all our shots and making smart decisions.”
Senior Nicholas Meale and freshman Emil Vyskocil dominated their number three doubles match 8-2 for a clean sweep in doubles play for Susquehanna.
In singles play, Susquehanna took every match but one. Dove coasted in the number one singles match to a 6–0, 6–1 win in straight sets, while Ornstein, Meale, Vyskocik and Seibert all followed suit with straight set victories. Ornstein’s match was the closest of the straight-set victories as he was able to outlast Penn State-Harrisburg’s Sachin Venkatesh 7–5, 7–5.
“I tend to be a very streaky singles player,” Ornstein said. There will be games where I don’t miss a shot, but others where I can’t hit one in.”
Both sets started out rough for Ornstein, but he was able to bounce back to win both.
“In that match I was down 4–1 in both sets, so I had to calm down and instantly refocus multiple times to finish the comeback,” Ornstein said.
Cocolas would be the only River Hawk to fall on the day, as Penn State-Harrisburg’s Hyun Jun Kwon was able to take him down in three sets with a 6–7, 6–0, 6–3 score line.
Meale would then respond with a 6–2, 6–4 win over Jared Gluck to put the River Hawks back on track. Vyskocil and Seibert then closed out the match for the River Hawks with Vyskocil taking a 6–1, 6–0 win over Austin Stehman in number five singles play and Seibert taking a 6–3, 6–3 win over Anthony Brominski in number six singles play.
The win concluded the fall season for Susquehanna’s men’s tennis team.
