ITHACA, NY – Hartwick men's tennis fell by a final count of 9-0 on Thursday evening at Ithaca College (3-5, 2-0 E8) to fall to 1-6 overall and 1-3 in the Empire 8. Despite the loss, Hartwick had a strong effort against one of the top teams in the conference as several matches went the distance.
             
Jeff Boyd (West Newbury, MA/Pentucket Regional) and Peter Dumas (Albany, NY/Colonie HS), who entered the day unbeaten at first doubles with a 3-0 record, fell just two games short of the Bombers' top tandem, Jimmy Newton and David Andersen. The Hawk duo fell by the slim margin of 8-6.
           
Will Gilbraith (West Monroe, NY/Paul V. Moore HS) and Ron Lambertson (Wawarsing, NY/Ellenville HS) also came close to a victory in the third flight. They won five games against Justin Levine and Ryan Zuckerman.
           
In singles play, Boyd gave Newton everything he could handle in the top spot. Newton, a three-time all-conference player, took the first set, 6-3. Boyd, however, roared back in the second, 6-4, to even the match at one set apiece. In the super tie-breaker to 10 points, Newton outgunned Boyd 10-7 for the win.
             
Freshman Brian Redder (Marion, NY/Williamson Central) also took his match into a third set in sixth singles. Zuckerman grabbed the lead after taking the first set, 7-5. Redder survived in a second-set tie-breaker, 7-6 (7-1) to force a super tie-breaker, but Zuckerman won 10 of the 17 points for the victory.
           
Senior Marcelo Navarro (San Juan, Puerto Rico/American Military Acad.) was knocked from the unbeaten ranks in third singles. After winning his first three matches of the season, he fell in the first set-tie-breaker, 7-6 (7-2), to Kyle Riether. He would fall in the second set, 6-2.
           
Dumas dropped a 6-3, 6-3 decision to Griffin Reid in second singles. Gilbraith fell 6-3, 6-2 to Justin Levine in fifth singles.
           
The Hawks next play at Alfred University on Saturday, April 14 at 2 p.m.