Ithaca, N.Y. - The Ithaca men's tennis team (0-1) held a 2-1 lead after the completion of doubles matches but dropped its season-opening dual match 6-3 to Rochester (4-2) in a match held at the Reis Tennis Center in Ithaca.

Senior Josh Rifkin (Homestead/Ft. Wayne, Ind.) was victorious in both singles and doubles play. With those two victories, Rifkin becomes the winningest men's tennis player in Ithaca history. He has 25 wins in singles and doubles play this year and 147 for his career. His former doubles partner Taylor Borda, a 2010 graduate, compiled 146 wins over his four-year career. Rifkin teamed with junior Jimmy Newton (Florida Virtual School/Englewood, Fla.) to win 8-3 at first doubles. Rifkin then went on to win 6-3, 6-4 at first singles.

Ithaca's other team point came at second doubles, where sophomore Josh Berggrun (Orange/Moreland Hills, Ohio) and freshman Blake Wetherbee (Fairview/Boulder, Colo.) won 8-3.

Ithaca will compete again on its spring trip, March 14, 15 and 18.

Tennis Match Results
02/19/11 at Ithaca, N.Y.
(Reis Tennis Center)

Rochester 6, Ithaca 3

Singles competition
1. Josh RIFKIN (IC) def. Boris Borovcanin (UR) 6-3, 6-4
2. Jeff Zink (UR) def. Jimmy NEWTON (IC) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Matt Volkov (UR) def. Josh BERGGRUN (IC) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
4. Brian Rice (UR) def. Kyle REITHER (IC) 4-6, 6-1, 10-1
5. Joel Allen (UR) def. Griffin REID (IC) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
6. Dan Barbash (UR) def. Dan LEVINE (IC) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Jimmy NEWTON/Josh RIFKIN (IC) def. Boris Borovcanin/Brian Rice (UR) 8-3
2. Josh BERGGRUN/Blake WETHERBEE (IC) def. Dan Barbash/John Lewis-Etter (UR) 8-3
3. Matt Volkov/Jeff Zink (UR) def. David ANDERSEN/Dan LEVINE (IC) 8-2

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,1,6,2,3,4)