DELHI, NY – Hartwick took a big step toward clinching its first Empire 8 playoff berth since 2009 with a 5-4 victory over Alfred University on Saturday at SUNY Delhi. The Hawks, who are now 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the Empire 8 Conference, are now in third place in the standings.
Hartwick fell behind 2-1 after doubles play after falling in two tie-breakers at the first two flights.
Tyler Adler (Pittsford, NY/East Rochester) and
Casey Serdiouk (Margaretville, NY/Margaretville Central) picked up an 8-4 win in the third doubles flight, but the duos of
John Talbot (Middlesex, NY/Marcus Whitman) and
Nikola Nedeljkovic (Portland, OR/Sunset) and
Nick Adamou (New Milford, CT/New Milford) and
Jack Steinman (North Haven, CT/North Haven) both were outlasted by their opponents in first and second doubles, respectively, by identical scores of 8-7 (7-4).
In singles, the Hawks took a 3-2 advantage thanks to straight set wins from Adler and Steinman. Adler won 6-0, 6-2 in the fifth flight and Steinman captured a 6-3, 6-3 win in fourth singles.
After the Saxons won in second singles to tie the match at 3-all, Talbot won 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 in first singles to make it 4-3, and Serdiouk sealed the team win with a 7-5, 6-2 victory in the sixth spot. Talbot, Steinman, and Adler each up their singles records to 6-3 with victories today.
The Hawks next play SUNY Oneonta in a match tentatively scheduled for Thursday, April 26 in their final non-conference match. They wrap up the regular season at Stevens in an E8 clash on Saturday, April 28. 'Wick can clinch a spot in the playoffs with either a win against the first-place Ducks, or some favorable results from around the league this coming week.
