BABSON PARK - Sophomore Danny Coran won the deciding match at #2 singles as the Tufts men's tennis team edged Babson College, 5-4, on Saturday morning.
The contest was the first of two matches for the Jumbos on Saturday. They are also scheduled for a 1 pm start back on campus against Trinity College in a NESCAC match.
The Jumbos came out of doubles with a 2-1 lead at Babson. Nik Telkedzhiev and Griffin Brockman were 8-5 winners at #1 and Nick Cary with Rob Jacobson earned an 8-2 victory in the third match. After going down 2-0 in doubles, Babson's Brandon Rosenbluth and Roberto Perez cut the deficit in half with an 8-5 triumph at number two.
Coran and senior Rob Jacobson were the only two singles regulars to play for Tufts at Babson. Kevin Kelly defeated Rosenbluth 6-2, 6-1 at number four singles, but the hosts picked up victories in the next three matches to take a 4-3 lead. Perez rolled to a 6-0, 6-2 result at number one, Ben Roque breezed to a 6-2, 6-2 win at number six, and Victor Vu got Babson within one point of the upset with his 6-1, 6-2 triumph at number three.
Jumbo freshman Ethan Chen came from behind to hold off Babson. Saif Rahim had taken the first set of the match at number five singles, but Chen rallied for a 4-6, 6-0, 6-0 win to even the score at 4-4. Coran then finished off a 7-6 (3), 6-4 victory over Isaac Thylen for the deciding point at number two singles.
The win is the second straight that came down to the last match for the Jumbos. They edged Brandeis on Wednesday with a victory by Nick Cary. Tufts is now 10-4 overall. It's the most wins for the team since 2013.
Babson (6-7) returns to action on Sunday when it hosts Colby at 1 pm.
Some information in this recap courtesy of Babson College
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