DELHI, N.Y. (March 17, 2019) – The SUNY Delhi men's tennis team opened their 2019 season this weekend, splitting their Saturday and Sunday matches to start their first NCAA season at 1-1. The Broncos traveled to Houghton Saturday, falling by a 9-0 score, then rebounding mightily in their home debut Sunday, beating College of St. Elizabeth, 7-2.
HOUGHTON 9, DELHI 0
The Highlanders overwhelmed the competition in Delhi's season debut, posting shutout wins in two doubles matches and three singles matches. The remaining doubles win featured Houghton's one team in Jake Fisler/Louis Garcia defeating Marcos Andrino/Laif Lundstrom, 8-1. Of the remaining singles matches, Highlander Matthew Cicero beat Jake Robinson at five, 6-1 and 6-0, while Micah Christenson defeated Bababukunmi Babalola in the sixth spot, 6-0 and 6-3. Bailey Lane was forced to retired his four-singles match against Ethan Yung due to an injury he sustained during the second set. Yung held a 6-0, 2-0 lead at the point of retirement.
DELHI 7, ST. ELIZABETH 2
The Broncos made the quick turnaround back to Delhi on Sunday for their home opener against the Eagles. Delhi started the day sweeping the doubles competition, highlighted by the one team of Marcos Andrino and Laif Lundstrom overcoming a 4-1 deficit and winning seven straight sets for an 8-4 win. Christopher Balogh and Payton Dean came out victorious in the number-two spot, 8-3, while the three tandem of Michael Zerniak and Brody Rettle cruised to an 8-2 victory.
Dean went on to gather the team's first singles win, beating Josh Gonzalez at four, 6-3 and 6-0. Lundstrom clinched the team victory for the Broncos when he downed Lesly Cruz-Munoz by matching 6-3 scores at one singles. Jake Robinson came back from a 7-5 defeat in the first set of his five-singles match with Kevin Santiago, taking the second set, 6-4, and winning the tiebreaker, 10-8. Andrino added Delhi's final win of the day at three singles, beating Alex Chevez Vicuna, 6-3 and 6-1.
MTEN: Highlights from today's 7-2 win over St. Elizabeth. Andrino/Lundstrom overcoming a 4-1 deficit to win one doubles 8-4. And as seen below, Jake Robinson winning the tiebreaker 10-8 at five singles! #DelhiDrive #JakeDidntBlowA9to4Lead pic.twitter.com/4Dz0jLs1wo
— SUNY Delhi Broncos (@DelhiBroncos) March 17, 2019
UP NEXT…
Head coach Brian Mitko's team have an entire week ahead of them to prepare for their upcoming home match against Elmira on Sunday, Mar. 24 at 1:00 p.m. Delhi then opens up its NAC competition the following weekend, traveling to face Thomas on Saturday, Mar. 30 at 10:00 a.m. They then will stop over at Sage on Sunday, Mar. 31 to play the Gators at 1:00 p.m.
