UDC Fall to Unbeaten NYIT in ECC Opener

PORT WASHINGTON, NY – The University of the District of Columbia men's tennis team fell, 8-1 in their opening East Coast Conference game against unbeaten NYIT on Friday at Port Washington Tennis Center. 

The Firebirds (4-4, 0-1 ECC) were going into the ECC opener full of confidence after an impressive start to the season. However, their rivals NYIT improved to a 5-0 record this year with a strong showing against the District of Columbia. 

With No. 2 and No. 3 doubles losing for UDC, the No. 26 in the nation in doubles and No. 2 in the region pairing of Rok Bozic and Diego Pinto struck back to gain the Firebird's sole point of the match at No. 1 doubles. They took an 8-6 win over NYIT pair Cook and Caldas. 

Going into singles play 2-1 down UDC were in a battle with the Bears, and unfortunately were unable to stop the undefeated NYIT as they went on to lose all six singles matches. 

A fascinating match-up at No. 1 singles saw the two impressive in-form players in UDC's Rok Bozic and NYIT's ITA East region No. 1 Matej Selecky go head-to-head which Selecky came out on top, 6-3, 6-3, to end Bozic's undefeated streak in singles this season. 

At No. 2 singles there was a tense battle happening between Alexis Baguelin and Francisco Caldas as Baguelin saw his efforts taken to a decisive third set tiebreaker only for Caldas to sneak the win with a score of 6-4, 6-7, 10-6. 

The Firebirds will be looking to bounce back tomorrow as they face East Region No. 1 Concordia (N.Y.) at 1:30PM.