Tritons Endure Narrow Loss to Sailfish

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd men's tennis team fell to Palm Beach Atlantic Saturday afternoon at the Fred Bullard Courts, 4-3.

Eckerd (7-4) nearly swept the doubles point with the top pairing of Batu Ataseven and Mario Kirkov, winning 6-2, and Adrian Gheorghe paired with Marshall Hulett, taking their match 6-2. 

The Tritons secured two out of six singles wins, but not without putting up a fight. Kirkov took his opponent into a tiebreak in the first set. Eric Asakura forced his opponent to three sets. Palla and Hulett came out on top to secure two singles points for the Tritons. The match was decided in the No. 5 spot, as Georghe took set one, Alejandro Rol Franco forced a third set, which Gheorghe narrowly dropped, 7-5. 

Eckerd men's tennis returns to action on Tuesday at 11:00 AM against UT Dallas at the Fred Bullard Courts.

Singles competition 

1. Luis Eduardo Platas (PBA) def. Batu Ataseven (ECM25) 6-3, 6-3

2. Milan Visontai (PBA) def. Mario Kirkoc (ECM25) 7-6 (7-4), 7-5

3. Juanfer Contreras (PBA) def. Eric Asakura (ECM25) 6-4, 5-7, 6-0

4. Marshall Hulett (ECM25) def. Marko Visontai (PBA) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2

5. Alejandro Rol Franco (PBA) def. Adrian Gheorghe (ECM25) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5

6. Lukas Palla (ECM25) def. Matthew Young (PBA) 6-2, 6-0

Doubles competition 

1. Batu Ataseven and Mario Kirkov (ECM25) def. Alejandro Rol Franco and Milan Visontai (PBA) 6-2

2. Adrian Gheorghe and Marshall Hulett (ECM25) def. Luis Eduardo Platas and Marko Visontai (PBA) 6-2

3. Juanfer Contreras and Matthew Young (PBA) def. Eric Asakura and Lukas Palla (ECM25) 7-6 (7-5)