NORTON, Mass. -- Junior Eli Hanlon (Branford, Conn.) won at fifth singles to secure a dual match victory and was one of three double-winners for the Wheaton College men's tennis team in a 6-3 win over visiting Endicott College today at Beard Field House on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons improve to 2-2 on the season, while the Gulls fall to 0-4.
Hanlon cruised to a 6-0 win in the opening set, before falling, 6-4 to Endicott sophomore Hudson De Risi (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.) to even the match at one set apiece. Hanlon found himself down 5-4, but was able to win serve and then break De Risi to take a 6-5 lead. The junior then served out the match with four of the next five points to take the final frame, 7-5, and give Wheaton a 5-2 lead with the match-deciding fifth point.
Hanlon combined with senior Ethan Na (Simsbury, Conn.) to earn an 8-6 victory at number two doubles over De Risi and sophomore Oliver Pope (Dartmouth, Mass.) for the team's first point of the match. Senior Josh Anschuetz (West Bloomfield, Mich.) teamed with classmate Jack Luyrink (Paxton, Mass.) for an 8-6 win of their own at first doubles for the Lyons over junior Cillian Reidy (Cork City, Ireland) and first year Antonio Marsallo (Baldwinsville, N.Y.).
Anschuetz and Na were both quick winners in singles play for Wheaton as well to give the Lyons a 4-1 lead before Hanlon clinched the match. Anschuetz earned a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 decision over Reidy at number one singles after Na made quick work of Pope at second singles with a 6-3, 6-3 effort.
Senior Chris Register (Portland, Maine) dropped the opening set at sixth singles, 6-2, to first year Aaron Terpko (Shrewsbury, Mass.), before rebounding with a 6-3 effort in the middle set to even the singles match for Wheaton. Register won the third-set tie-breaker, 10-4, to complete the 6-3 win for the home squad.
Register combined with senior Gabriel Fellows (Middletown, R.I.), who was making his collegiate debut at number three doubles for the Lyons, but the tandem was defeated by sophomore George Danes (Old Lyme, Conn.) and junior Julian Richtarich (Naples, Fla.), 8-4.
Danes was a double-winner for Endicott with a 6-1, 6-3 triumph at fourth singles over Fellows, while Marsallo won the final two sets to claim a three-set, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory over Wheaton sophomore Daniel Bor (Seattle, Wash.).
The Lyons return to action on Saturday, March 4 when they host University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) at 4:00 p.m., while the Gulls host Eastern Nazarene College on February 28 at 6:45. p.m.
