‘Cats Drop Another Close Men's Tennis Match, Fall 4-3 to Elon

Saturday, March 12

Davidson, N.C.

1:00 p.m.

Davidson College

Elon

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

‘Cats Drop Another Close Men's Tennis Match, Fall 4-3 to Elon

3/12/2011 6:40:08 PM | Men's Tennis

Gavin McFarlin -- Assistant SID

Match Results

DAVIDSON, N.C. — For the second Southern Conference match in a row, Davidson was within striking distance of a win, but fell just short in dropping another 4-3 decision, this time to visiting Elon when the Phoenix captured the winning point at the No. 2 singles spot on Saturday afternoon at the Covington Tennis Courts.

The 'Cats also dropped a 4-3 match to Chattanooga to open SoCon play last weekend when the Mocs took the doubles point, which proved to be the difference.

Tied at 3-all in team points, it came down to the No. 2 singles match of Joe Schafer (Orchard Park, N.Y.) and Cameron Silverman. It was a tightly contested match as both players took a set apiece with identical scores of 6-4, forcing the third and final set. Silverman went on to outlast Schafer in earning the deciding point, taking a 6-3 decision in the final set to give the Phoenix (7-5, 1-0 SoCon) their first league win and fifth win overall in the last six matches.

Davidson (3-10, 0-2 SoCon) had grabbed a 1-0 lead after taking two of the three doubles matches, but dropped four of the six singles matches in falling for the fifth time in a row.

Ethan Kallick (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Walker Lyons (Wallingford, Pa.) opened their afternoon in impressive fashion, rolling to an 8-3 win at No. 2 doubles.

The team of Chris Mark (Union City, Calif.) and Kevin Moore (Overland Park, Kan.) sealed the doubles point then with an 8-6 triumph at No. 3.

Davidson nearly took all three doubles spots as the No. 1 team of Schafer and Calum Gee (Ayr, Scotland) gave the Phoenix's nationally-ranked team of Phillip Nemec and Chase Helpingstine all they could handle. The 40th ranked doubles team in the nation though prevailed 8-6, but the 'Cats held the 1-0 lead.

Singles action saw Mark and Lyons both give Davidson their second and third points. Mark earned a three-set win over Nemec at No. 1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1. The sophomore scored his first career collegiate win at the No. 1 spot.

Lyons then cruised to his sixth singles win of the season, and first in SoCon action, with a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 5 over Cody MacDowell.

Elon would pick up wins at No. 3, 4 and 6, setting up the showdown at No. 2 for the final team-point and the match.

Davidson continues its six-match homestand with a mid-week match against cross-county rival Charlotte on Tuesday, Mar. 15 at 3 p.m.