NORTON, Mass. — Junior Jake Murray (San Diego, Calif.) broke a 3-3 tie with a straight-set win at sixth singles to give the Wheaton College (Mass.) men's tennis team a 4-3 victory over visiting Endicott College this afternoon at Beard Field House on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.

The Lyons improve to 1-1 on the season, while the Gulls fall to 0-5.

Murray won the opening set over senior Aaron Terpko (Shrewsbury, Mass.), 6-3, but trailed in the second frame, 4-3. Murray pulled even at 4-4, before breaking Terpko's serve, while dropping just one point to take a 5-4 lead in the second set. Murray won the match with a deuce service that resulted in a return into the net from his Endicott foe to give Wheaton the dual match victory. It was the Blue and White's first win that came down to the final singles match since a 5-4 decision over Stonehill College on February 17, 2019.

Sophomore Pablo Munoz (Paris, France) put the Lyons in position to win the match after a 7-5, 6-2 victory at number two singles over sophomore Ethan Hopman (Summit, N.J.). 

The Gulls took a 1-0 lead in the match after winning the doubles point following wins at number one and two doubles. Endicott first year Drew Benporath (South Guildford, Western Australia) and senior Antonio Marsallo (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) combined for a 6-2 triumph over the Wheaton junior duo of Murray and Calvin Van Dyke (Albuquerque,  N.M.) at second doubles. The Lyons answered with a win at number three doubles. Munoz and junior Paul Berteaux (Paris, France) upended sophomore Eric Scalici (Essex Fells, N.J.) and junior Spencer Smith (Albany, N.Y.), 6-2. Terpko joined with Gulls' senior Conrad Kadel (Heidelberg, Germany) for a 6-2 triumph at number one doubles over the Wheaton pairing of junior Jaime Gálligo (Madrid, Spain) and first year Landon Wyshner (Winston Salem, N.C.) to secure the doubles point.

Wyshner wasted no time to even the match for the Lyons, quickly dispatching of Marsallo at number three singles without dropping a game, 6-0, 6-0. Endicott reclaimed its edge with a victory at number four singles. Benporath put together a 6-3, 6-2 win over Van Dyke. 

Wheaton pulled even again when Berteaux came back from one set down to win the final two frames to defeat Scalici at number five singles. Scalici took the first set, 6-2, before Berteaux evened the contest at 6-3. Berteaux continued his momentum with a 10-8 win in the third frame to even the dual match at 2-2 for the Lyons.

The Gulls countered again to go up in the match, 3-2, after Kadel turned in a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Gálligo at first singles.

Wheaton returns to the court on Saturday, February 28 to host Colby-Sawyer College for a 4:00 p.m. match at Beard Field House, while Endicott travels to New London, Conn. on February 21 to take on United States Coast Guard Academy at 1:00 p.m.