ALFRED, NY – Jeff Boyd (West Newbury, MA/Pentucket Regional), Peter Dumas (Albany, NY/Colonie HS), and Marcelo Navarro (San Juan, Puerto Rico/American Military Acad.) came away with singles wins, but Hartwick's men's tennis team fell one match short in a 5-4 defeat at Alfred University Saturday. It marks the Hawks' third Empire 8 defeat by a 5-4 final score this season.
           
The Hawks are now 1-7 overall and 1-4 in conference play this season. Alfred improves to 9-6 and 2-3 in the E8.
           
The host Saxons grabbed a 2-1 lead after the three doubles matches. Navarro and freshman Brian Redder (Marion, NY/Williamson Central) teamed up for an 8-4 win over AU's Nate Kucko and Mike Graham in second doubles. 'Wick's Boyd and Dumas fell short in the number one flight to Nick Schneider and Stefan Nonnenmann, 8-6.
           
Boyd, Dumas, and Navarro came away with singles victories in the first three flights but the Hawks couldn't pick up a fourth to earn the team victory.
           
Boyd beat Schneider, 7-5, 6-1, in first singles for his third win of the season. Dumas outlasted Nate Garletts in the second spot, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5) to improve to 3-1. Navarro upped his season mark to 4-1 with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Kucko.
           
Hartwick takes a break from conference play and travels to Schenectady for a match with Union on Monday, April 16.