WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – The Ithaca College men's tennis team put its two-match winning streak on the line on Saturday afternoon when it traveled to the Garden State to face nationally-ranked No. 28 TCNJ at the Mercer County Park Tennis Complex. The Bombers struggled to contend against the red-hot Lions, scoring just one victory among the nine matchups on the day in an 8-1 defeat. The loss drops Ithaca's record to 3-8 on the season.
 
Doubles
1. Matthew Michibata/Tim Gavornik (TCNJ) def. Minos Stavrakas/Colten Lavery (ITHACA) | 8-1
2. Mitchel Sanders/Thomas Wright (TCNJ) def. Michael Gardiner/Max Prestwich (ITHACA) | 8-2
3. Matt Puig/Andrew Mok (TCNJ) def. Sam McGrath/Liam Spiegel (ITHACA) | 8-5
 
Singles
1. Mitchel Sanders (TCNJ) def. Minos Stavrakas (ITHACA) | 6-2, 6-0
2. Matthew Michibata (TCNJ) def. Sam McGrath (ITHACA) | 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 10-6
3. Justin Wain (TCNJ) def. Michael Gardiner (ITHACA) | 6-1, 6-0
4. Colten Lavery (TCNJ) def. Tim Gavornik (TCNJ) | 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 10-5
5. Matt Puig (TCNJ) def. Max Prestwich (ITHACA) | 6-1, 6-1
6. Thomas Wright (TCNJ) def. Garrett Boleslav (ITHACA) | 6-0, 6-2
 
Although Ithaca has really stepped things up in the doubles session over recent matches, TCNJ proved a tough team to handle during the day's first session. The Lions stymied Ithaca's recent roll with a 3-0 sweep of the session to take a commanding lead.
 
The closest matchup of the tandems play came in the third slot, as senior Sam McGrath and junior Liam Spiegel battled hard albeit in a losing effort. IC's experience duo hung tough, falling just short down the stretch in an 8-5 loss to Matt Puig and Andrew Mok. TCNJ's top two groupings had easier wins during the session. Juniors Minos Stavrakas and Colten Lavery fell in an 8-1 defeat to Matthew Michibata and Tim Gavornik in the first-doubles position to begin the day. TCNJ's Mitchel Sanders and Thomas Wright followed shortly after with an 8-2 triumph over IC's senior Michael Gardiner and junior Max Prestwich at second-doubles.
 
The singles session was highlighted by a victory at fourth singles from Lavery. IC's third-year talent put together a thrilling comeback to score the impressive win over Gavornik. After dropping the opening set by a 6-2 margin, he rallied in the second to storm back and tie the matchup at a set apiece. Lavery outlasted Gavornik in a marathon breaker, winning 8-6 to force a third-set super-breaker. Ithaca's junior kept the momentum rolling with a 10-5 win in the breaker to get Ithaca on the board.
 
McGrath also had a competitive battle in the second position against TCNJ's Michibata. He won the opening set in a thrilling tiebreaker, besting Michibata down the stretch for a 7-4 win in the breaker. Unfortunately, he was unable to sustain the momentum, as Michibata took the second set by a 6-3 margin and scored a 10-6 win in the super-breaker.
 
Senior Garrett Boleslav joined Stavrakas, Gardiner and Prestwich in suffering defeats during the remainder of the singles session.
 
Ithaca is back in action tomorrow afternoon when it continues the road trip with a Liberty League match at Bard. Start time is set for 1:00 p.m.