box score

The Wilkes University men's tennis team had to rely on its bottom half of the lineup to pick up a 6-3 victory over Scranton on their own courts at the Ralston Complex.

The Colonels won two of three doubles matches, but picked up key victories at the No. 3, 4, 5 and 6 positions for their 10th win of the season.

The duo of Chris Cozzillio (Harrisburg/Trinity) and Jeremy Nolt (Bloomsburg/Central Columbia) gave Wilkes an early 1-0 lead after they beat Scott Melideo and Joe Morra at the No. 1 spot before Evan Katz (Ellicott City, MD/Centennial) and Wes McCollum (Harrisburg/Central Dauphin) made it 2-0 with an 8-4 victory over Bennett Kelley and Michael Arrighi. Scranton's tandem of Carl Caceres and Tim McGurrin would cut the Colonel lead in half when they took a 9-7 win over Clarke Freeman (York, PA/Central York) and Cesar Leon (Woodhaven, NY/Brooklyn Tech) at the No. 2 position.

In singles action, McCollum was the first to step off the court, coming away with a 6-0, 6-4 straight-set win over Morra at the No. 4 position. Katz kept the winning streak alive after his 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 victory over Mike Pannone at the No. 5 position, giving Wilkes a 4-1 advantage.

Playing at the No. 6 spot, Freeman clinched the match with a 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 win over Arrighi before Scranton took victories at the top two spots. Nolt was the last off the court, but made it count as he won his match 7-5, 3-6, 10-3 over McGurrin at the No. 3 position.

The Colonels will be back in action on Wednesday when they host Eastern in a Freedom Conference match at 3:30 p.m. at the Ralston Courts.