Wilkes Men's Tennis Claims MAC Freedom Title over Manhattanville
EDWARDSVILLE, PA – The Wilkes University men's tennis team beat Manhattanville 5-1 on Saturday afternoon at the Ralston Athletic Complex to take home their 12th straight Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom title and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Colonels now stand at 14-6 overall on the season.
Wilkes doubled up Manhattanville at #1 doubles as Courtney Murphy (Bronx, NY/Christopher Columbus) and Andrew MacDonald (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional) won 8-4 while #2 Braddock Chow (Glen Cove, NY/Glen Cove) and Mike Ellis (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) were one game better winning 8-3. The Colonels breezed through their #3 doubles match as Chris Maderitz (York, PA/Central York) and Jonathan White (Saylorsburg, PA/Pleasant Valley) dispatched the Bulldogs 8-1.
Murphy cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 victory at #1 singles but #3 White had a tough time getting going in his match falling in straight sets 2-6, 1-6.
Maderitz played the only three set match of the day at #2 singles as he battled back from a 3-6 first set loss to beat his opponent by the same score in the second. The junior rode that momentum into the third set as he dropped just one game to win the match 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
With the Colonels clinching the match at 5-1 the other singles matches were left unfinished.
For his performance, Maderitz was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
Wilkes awaits its opponent and destination for the first round of the NCAA Tournament as the brackets will be released at noon on Monday, May 6th.
