LEWISTON, Maine - The 18th-ranked Tufts University men's tennis team improved to 3-0 overall and in NESCAC with an 8-1 victory at Bates College on Saturday.
The #1 doubles match was a meeting between two top 10 Northeast Region pairs, but #2 Boris Sorkin and Josh Belandres from Tufts had their day cut short when the Bates #9 in the region tandem of Leo Kupferman and Cameron Kania had to retire with Tufts leading 3-1. Tufts' top team improved to 3-0 this spring with the victory. The Bobcats then tied the match at 1-1 with a #3 doubles victory by Alexander Gujarathi and Alex Kennedy 8-6. However, Tufts took the doubles point as Paris Pentousis and Mauricio Gutierrez won their first match together 8-7.
Tufts would sweep the singles matches in straight sets. Sorkin at #1, Gorelik at #2 and Pentousis in fourth singles all improved their season records to 3-0. Entering singles up just 2-1 in the team score, quick wins by Gorelik (6-3, 6-1) and Pentousis (6-2, 6-2) put Tufts in charge leading 4-1. Rishabh Sharda earned the decisive fifth win for the Jumbos in #3 singles against Gujarathi 6-3 and 6-1. Sorkin's 6-3, 7-5 victory over Nick Forester in the #1 match was the closest of the singles competition. A fifth singles win by Jack Moldenhauer and #6 victory for Corey Marley added to the perfect singles play for Tufts.
The Jumbos are back at it tomorrow when they will travel to local rival Brandeis for a noon start. The Bobcats are also in action tomorrow at Connecticut College (2 pm).
