Sunday, February 3
Bethlehem, Pa.
11 A.M.
Lehigh University
1
vs
6
Villanova University
Photo by: Brent Hugo
Mountain Hawks Fall To Villanova In Season Opener
2/3/2019 3:58:00 PM | Men's Tennis
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's tennis team started its season with a tough match against the Villanova Wildcats, with the Mountain Hawks falling 6-1 to visiting Villanova. Lehigh begins the 2019 campaign 0-1 while Villanova moves 3-0 on the early season.
"This was quite the reality check for us, and the scoreboard doesn't lie," said head coach Wouter Hendrix after the loss. "That being said I know our team has the ability to learn from this and bounce back. It will take time to get to the level we want to be at, but we will get there eventually. We look forward to the challenge."
The Mountain Hawks were slow to get out of the gate, starting 0-1 after dropping two doubles matches while the third was not played.
Singles didn't start the way Lehigh was anticipating, with the Wildcats winning the second and fourth flights to make it a 3-0 match.
Sophomore Harry Wang stepped up and gave the Mountain Hawks life in the first flight, defeating his opponent in three sets (6-4, 2-6, 6-3).
Unfortunately, that would be the lone win Lehigh would collect against Villanova. Senior Christopher Auteri did come close to picking up his first win of the season, pushing his opponent to three sets in the sixth flight, but was edged out 14-12 in the final set. Freshman Zack Elliot also had a chance to secure his first win, dropping two very close sets 7-6 in the third flight.
Lehigh will continue to play host for the early portion of the season, as it welcomes the Drexel Dragons to the Lewis Indoor Tennis Center on February 10.
"This was quite the reality check for us, and the scoreboard doesn't lie," said head coach Wouter Hendrix after the loss. "That being said I know our team has the ability to learn from this and bounce back. It will take time to get to the level we want to be at, but we will get there eventually. We look forward to the challenge."
The Mountain Hawks were slow to get out of the gate, starting 0-1 after dropping two doubles matches while the third was not played.
Singles didn't start the way Lehigh was anticipating, with the Wildcats winning the second and fourth flights to make it a 3-0 match.
Sophomore Harry Wang stepped up and gave the Mountain Hawks life in the first flight, defeating his opponent in three sets (6-4, 2-6, 6-3).
Unfortunately, that would be the lone win Lehigh would collect against Villanova. Senior Christopher Auteri did come close to picking up his first win of the season, pushing his opponent to three sets in the sixth flight, but was edged out 14-12 in the final set. Freshman Zack Elliot also had a chance to secure his first win, dropping two very close sets 7-6 in the third flight.
Lehigh will continue to play host for the early portion of the season, as it welcomes the Drexel Dragons to the Lewis Indoor Tennis Center on February 10.
Players Mentioned
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