Men’s tennis defeats Le Moyne 4-2 for first win – bubearcats.com

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – Binghamton men’s tennis (1-2) dropped the doubles point but stormed back with four singles wins to defeat visiting Le Moyne (2-1) 4-2 Saturday night at the Lane-Starke Tennis Center. It was BU’s first conference match in its inaugural year in the Northeast Conference.

The Bearcats fell behind after dropping two of three tight doubles matches. But BU rallied in singles, taking four of the five completed matches.

“It was a truly historic night for Binghamton men’s tennis,” head coach Nick Zieziula said. “To open up our first dual match ever in the newly renovated and newly named Lane-Starke Tennis Center in our new conference on the same night we had our first-ever live broadcast of a match from Binghamton … is really something special. We had a great turnout of alumni, and community support in the building and to be getting messages from alumni on other continents being able to follow the action in real time was amazing.” 

“The doubles point was a letdown after we had early breaks on two courts but credit to the guys for showing some resiliency and finding a way to get four singles matches,” Zieziula added. “Le Moyne battled hard and made us work tonight in our own building. Ronin (Lotlikar) had a special night notching his first dual match win at No 1. His ability to attack and control matches has grown a lot this year.”

Sophomore No. 6 James McPherson was first off court and his straight-set win evened the team score at 1-1. Then later with BU up 3-2, sophomore No. 1 Ronin Lotlikar earned a victory-clinching 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win. It was Lotlikar’s team-high 14^th win of the season.    

Binghamton hosts Siena (Sat.) and Bucknell (Sun.) next weekend at the LSTC.
 
Binghamton 4, Le Moyne 2
DOUBLES

1. Stojanovic, Luka/Peter Hatton (L) def. William Morais Binnie/James McPherson (BU), 7-6 (4)
2. Grundstroem, Leon/Nunez, Alvaro (L) def. Kyle Weekes/Filipe Costa (BU), 6-3
3. Ronin Lotlikar/Zubin Omar (BU) def. Piekarek, Kacper/Beires, Rodrigo (L), 7-5

 
Order of Finish: 2,3,1
 
SINGLES

1. Ronin Lotlikar (BU) def. Hatton, Peter (L), 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
2. William Morais Binnie (BU) def. Stojanovic, Luka (L), 6-4, 6-1
3. Nunez, Alvaro (L) def. Kyle Weekes (BU), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
4. Filipe Costa (BU) def. Grundstroem, Leon (L), 7-5, 6-1
5. Zubin Omar (BU) led Piekarek, Kacper (L), 4-6, 7-5, 9-8 dnf.
6. James McPherson (BU) def. Branagan, Xavier (L), 6-2, 6-3

Order of Finish: 6,4,2,3,1