In a week that had its ups and downs, the RPI men’s tennis team moved to 5-3 on the season after squeezing out a 4-3 victory over St. Lawrence at RPI’s own Sharp Courts this past Saturday. Mike Heligman led the team to victory at first singles with a three-set win over Andrew Bell of the Saints. In a close sixth singles match, Adam Cutter of St. Lawrence squeezed out a win over Jon Addison, 6-4, 6-4. At third singles, Joe Byrne came out strong in the first set, winning it 6-4. Despite losing the second set 0-6, he fought back in the third set to win it 6-3, helping RPI to secure a close victory.
On Tuesday, the New Paltz Hawks won a close match against RPI. The Engineers took the first point by winning two of three doubles matches, but the team failed to secure enough of the six singles matches to claim the victory. Heligman and Byrne secured the two singles wins, while Joe Black and Byrne, and Joaquin Denoya and Addison secured doubles victories.
Friday was marked by a sweeping victory for the men’s tennis team. RPI shut out the Clarkson Golden Knights 7-0 at home, led by Heligman and Borjan Gagoski at first and second singles. The team of Heligman and Black and the team of Gagoski and Byrne secured doubles victories to win the doubles point for RPI.
The RPI men’s tennis team competes Wednesday at SUNY-Oneonta, and will travel to the UCAA Championships at Vassar College next weekend.
