GRANTHAM, Pa. – Men's tennis (13-4, 5-0 MAC Commonwealth) beat Messiah (7-8, 3-1 MAC Commonwealth) 6-1 on Tuesday afternoon to officially clinch the #1 seed in the upcoming Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth playoffs. The Lions concluded the regular season with a perfect mark in conference play.
Albright has locked up the number one seed for the first time since the 2001 season. When the playoffs begin on Tuesday of next week, Albright will look to begin their quest for the programs second overall MAC title and their first MAC Commonwealth title.
The Lions will be headed to the postseason for the third consecutive season. The program has achieved that once before doing so from the 1999-2001 seasons.
Prior to the start of the match, Albright's
Karim Fattal was named MAC Commonwealth Tennis Player of the Week.
Fattal made good on his Player of the Week honor today winning again in #3 singles. Fattal's match went the distance going all three sets. Fattal won the first then dropped the second and rebound strongly to win 7-4 in the third set tiebreak.
Matias Contreras also won in three sets in number two singles. Contreras opened the match with a 6-3 win in the first set before dropping set number two. In the third set Contreras responded to take the match and third set 6-2.
Marcelo Menchaca was dominant in number four singles winning in straight sets 6-1, 6-0. Menchaca was outstanding this season, wrapping up his first-year as a Lion at a perfect 12-0.
Enrico Pucci got the job done in number five singles after dropping the first set. Pucci would go on to win the next two sets in dominating fashion, winning both 6-2.
Dylan Huha made it five for six for the Lions in singles matches winning his match 6-2, 6-4 in number six singles.
The Lions earned the doubles team point by winning doubles matches two and three.
Leonardo Russo Gispert and Contreras got the job done in number two doubles winning 6-3 while
Esteban Vallejo and Menchaca won in convincing fashion in number three doubles 6-1.
Up Next:
Albright will begin playoffs on Wednesday, April 29 playing in the semifinals on their home courts. The rest of the MAC Commonwealth concludes their regular season on Saturday (April 25). After Saturday night the Lions will learn who they will play in the semifinals.
