FLUSHING, N.Y. – The Pratt Institute men's tennis team took a convincing 8-1 victory over their future Atlantic East Conference rivals Immaculata University on Sunday afternoon at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Playing in their first dual match of the season after opening the season at the ITA Regional Championship, the Cannoneers move to 1-0.
The Cannoneers nabbed all three doubles matches with MIkah Liu and Eagle Zhang teaming up for an 8-5 win in the lead match, Mehul Bhargava and Ryan Nelsen securing an 8-2 triumph at No. 2 and Calder Tillinghast and Caleb Callahan prevailing 8-4 in the No. 3 position.
All five Pratt singles wins came in straight-set victories. Liu coasted to a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles and Bhargava won 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the No. 3 match. Tillinghast scored a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles; Nelsen defeated his No. 5 opponent 7-5, 6-3 and Callahan won 6-2, 6-3 in the No. 6 spot.
The lone Immaculata (0-4) point came in a third-set super-tiebreaker at No. 2 singles. Zhang rallied after dropping the first set before falling in a hard-fought match, 7-5, 1-6, 1-0 (10-6).
Pratt will wrap up the fall portion of their schedule on Thursday, October 19 traveling to borough foes Brooklyn College in a road match with the women starting at 2 p.m.
