Willy Nelson

Jacob Pine

After being swept in doubles, The College of Wooster men's tennis team battled back to within 4-3, but North Coast Athletic Conference East Division foe Allegheny College held on for a 6-3 victory on a sunshine-filled Friday afternoon in Wooster, Ohio.

Facing a 3-0 deficit entering the singles matches, Wooster's (9-8, 0-3 NCAC East) top player gave the team a boost with a quick point. Titas Bera, ranked 20th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association NCAA Div. III Central Region, won 10 consecutive games, and his opponent retired with the score 6-0, 4-0.

Another one-sided match, occurring at No. 2 singles, went to Allegheny (10-7, 1-1 NCAC East) to make the team score 4-1, then the Fighting Scots turned to seniors Jacob Pine and Willy Nelson, who closed their careers at D.J. Hard Memorial Courts with solid wins at No. 3 and No. 5, respectively. Pine cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 decision, and after a close first set, Nelson prevailed 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.

Still within striking distance of completing the comeback, Wooster's Jack Buchan, at No. 4, and Milo Saurman, at No. 6, were on the court. Buchan extended his foe to a third set and Saurman was locked in a tight second set, however, the Gators eventually prevailed at both spots with score lines of 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 and 6-2, 7-5.

The Scots have one more tune-up prior to next weekend's NCAC Tournament, as they'll be at Case Western Reserve University (13-9) on Sunday morning.