BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - The Millersville men's tennis team's valiant run through the spring semester was stopped by Mercyhurst in Saturday's PSAC Semifinal, 4-0.
Hampered by injuries and down to four players for several matches at the end of the season, the Marauders still managed the No. 3 seed. Millersville played with a full lineup Saturday, but it was evident that they were not at 100% with
Yash Kothari and
Lino Morin both bowing out of singles action. Just eight days earlier, the Marauders challenged the Lakers in a 4-3 regular season dual. Millersville's season ends with a 7-9 record. It was Millersville's third-straight trip to the PSAC Semifinals. Mercyhurst advances to Sunday's championship match with an 11-6 record.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Mercyhurst's No. 2 and No. 3 doubles teams claimed victories by scores of 6-4 and 6-2.
Shaurya Piplani and
Yash Kothari teamed for just the third time all season in their loss. Kothari played for the first time since March 24. Millersville's undefeated team of
Dylan Tull and
Zach Pernia did not get a chance, as the first two matches clinched the doubles point for the Lakers.
• In singles, Morin put up a fight in a close 7-5 first set and trailed just 4-3 in the second when he determined that he could not finish the match. Kothari's default at No. 6 singls and Colm Shultz's 6-1, 6-2 win over
Jasper de Koning sealed the win for Mercyhurst.
REACTION FROM COACH MATT HELSEL
• "Our men had a tough assignment today against a good and experienced Mercyhurst squad. We had some opportunities but could not quite capitalize. With everything we've fought through this season, I'm so proud for the guys to still end up competing for a conference title. The lessons they learned this season will serve them well. It was really a great group of guys that circled the wagons and rallied around each other."
REFLECTING ON 2022-23
• All six players in Saturday's lineup are expected to return in 2023-24. No. 1 singles played
Dylan Tull led the team with a 12-7 singles record. de Koning went 12-8. The team went 21-9 in singles against PSAC teams. Tull and Pernia posted an 8-0 record as a pairing.
