HAVERFORD, Pa. – Looking to open up the season on a high note, the Haverford College men's tennis team evenly split its six singles matches against No. 38 TCNJ. Unfortunately for the Fords, those three singles victories were not enough to dig themselves out of a 3-0 hole from the earlier doubles action against their nationally-ranked foes.
Luis Acaba was the first of Haverford's three victories on the afternoon. Competing against his regionally-ranked opponent, Acaba took the No. 1 singles position in straight sets. The Fords' senior used back-to-back 6-4 sets to take down the No. 16 player from the Northeast Region.
Josh Moskovitz made the first home match of his career a memorable one as he pulled through in a three-set victory to claim the point at No. 3 singles. Falling behind after a 6-4 setback in the first set, the freshman came through with a 7-6 (7) win to even his match. He then put together the most decisive set of the match to secure the win with a 6-2 victory in the third.
Harrison Elbert also emerged with a thrilling three-set victory in the home opener. Like his teammate at No. 3, Elbert found himself in need of a rally after a 6-4 setback at No. 4 singles. He started to swing the momentum in his favor with a 6-3 second set to force the decisive set. He completed the comeback with a hard-fought 7-5 third set.
Haverford was also in each of the other three singles matches. Ishaan Prinz fell victim to a three-set defeat in his match at No. 5 singles. He jumped out early with a 6-4 win in the opening set before his opponent rallied for the win. Both Dais Nakayama and Zack Mason each took eight games over the two sets in their respective positions.
TCNJ got the early advantage by claiming each of the three doubles matches to start the day. Moskovitz and Nakayama played the tightest of the three doubles matches before falling in the middle doubles slot.
With a strong test in the home opener, the Fords will now head to Puerto Rico over the week of spring break. During the course of spring break, they will play both Sacred Heart (Tuesday, March 8) and P.R.-Rio Piedros (Friday, March 11).