COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College men's tennis team took on a tall task on Thursday, facing off with nationally ranked TCNJ without its top player. The Bears fought hard, but ultimately succumbed to the high-powered Lions in a 9-0 non-conference defeat.
TCNJ (12-3) came in ranked 30th in Division III and proved its mettle, though the Bears (10-5) showed plenty of fight.
Senior Chanton Phan and junior Peter Shields were most competitive in doubles, challenging Jack August and Mile Stanley in an 8-4 final.
Five of the six singles players for Ursinus won at least three games in one set, and two won four. Sophomore Paul Vecchio dropped a 6-4, 6-1 match to Mitchel Sanders at number one singles, and Phan fell by the same count to August at number two,
Senior Henry Burke held a second-set lead before winding up on the short end of a 6-3, 6-3 contest against Omar Bokhari, while Shields fell 6-2, 6-3 to Chris D'Agostino at fourth singles.
The Bears will honor Burke, Phan, and Jordan Hodess as part of Senior Day festivities before Saturday's Centennial Conference match against McDaniel.
