Daytona, Fla.- Lynn University's ninth-ranked men's tennis team trailed 2-1 to Embry-Riddle after doubles play but had a strong effort in singles to come back and win the match 5-4. The second-ranked NAIA Eagles fall to 8-3 overall and suffer their third loss of a Division II school this season. Lynn improves to 10-2 overall and 11-4 all-time against ERAU.
The No. 2 duo in the NAIA of Deni Zmak and Jaime Sanchez-Canama defeated Lynn's Mehdi Laalej and Pavel Mojha at the top doubles spot, 9-8 (7-5). Fernando Rivas an Daniel Riggs dell 8-5 at No. 2 doubles to Carlos Becke and Fabian Zierleyn giving the Eagles a 2-0 lead but Fighting Knights Alessio Iannozzi and Paolo Volpicelli avoided the sweep with a 8-5 win over Miguel Lopez Gomez and Rodolfo Arreyque at the bottom of the doubles lineup.
No. 23 Riggs fell 6-4, 6-1, to top-ranked Zmack at No. 1 singles and 17th-ranked Sanchez-Canama won at the second spot, 7-5, 6-0 over Rivas. Lynn took victories at No. 3, 4, 5 and 6 singles to win the match 5-4. Mojha won in consecutive sets of 6-3 over No. 45 Becke at No. 3 singles. Laalej won 6-1, 6-2 over Zierleyn and Iannozzi took a 6-4, 7-6, (7-1) win over Arreyque at the fourth and fifth spots respectively.
The deciding match came down to No. 6 singles where after winning 6-1 in the first set, Volpicelli lost the second, 4-6, to Lopez Gomez but a big 6-4 win in the third set by Volpicelli sealed the match in Lynn's favor.
The Fighting Knights return to action on Tuesday, March 17, when the Blue & White hosts NYIT at 2 pm. Fans can follow the action live at LynnFightingKnights.com. Don't forget to 'Like' us on Facebook and follow @Lynn_Knights on Twitter and Instagram.
