Sep 20, 2008 MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The Allegheny men’s tennis team won five of its nine matches against Division I opponent Robert Morris, but fell, 4-3. The Gators swept RMU in doubles competition. However, in D-I tennis, doubles competition yields one total point, a rule which hurt Allegheny.
Matt Chiricosta (Avon Lake, Ohio/St. Ignatius) and Ben Hurtuk (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls) won their No. 1 doubles match. They defeated Shawn Curley and Mateusz Wadzinski, 9-7.
At second doubles, Jacob Allmaras (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) and Matt Spriegel (Wibraham, Mass./Minnechaug) handled David Pinto and Igov Neves, 8-5, while Zack Kerosky (Ashtabula, Ohio/Lakeside) and Evan Gordon (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) claimed victory in No. 3 doubles, 9-7, over Daniel Becker and Aaron Haas.
Up 1-0 after doubles, Allegheny needed three singles points to clinch the win. However, only a pair of Gators – Chiricosta and Kerosky – came through.
Chiricosta beat Wadzinski at first singles, winning a hard-fought match, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. At fifth singles, Kerosky defeated Ryan Cameron, 6-3, 6-4.
The Gator men will be in action next on Wednesday, Sept. 24. They will host Grove City at 5 p.m.