EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University men's tennis team completed day one action on Saturday at the 2021 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Championship. The Colonels will compete in at least five semifinal matches tomorrow at the Kirby Park and Ralston Athletic Complex courts.

Full brackets of singles and doubles can be seen on the championship central page.

In singles action five of the seven Colonel participants are still alive, with four advancing to the semifinal round. One more had his quarterfinal stopped due to darkness. One of the Colonels four doubles teams advanced to the semifinals.

Singles play was shortened from first-to-six games in each set to first-to-four after the start of doubles play was delayed in the morning due to early morning rain.

Second-seeded sophomore Cole Gibson (Pinecrest, FL/Miami Palmetto Senior) opened No. 1 singles play with a 4-0, 4-2 win over Jon Noble of Arcadia to reach the quarterfinals. He then defeated Brendan Byler of Lebanon Valley 4-2, 4-2 to reach the semifinal round tomorrow. He will square off with third seeded Ben Porto of Stevenson in that match.

First year Nathanial Rathe (Lincoln, NE/Lincoln Southeast) was a 4-1, 2-4, 10-8 winner in a nail-biting first round match at No. 3 singles over Nolan Beck of DeSales. Rathe then made much easier work of Vince Griffin of York (Pa.), winning 4-2, 4-0 in the quarterfinals. He will face second seeded Lukas Sanidas of Stevenson in the semifinal round tomorrow.

Second-seeded sophomore John Toussaint (Dallas, PA/Dallas Senior) also edged his way to the quarterfinals with a first round victory at No. 4 singles over Jayden Lewis of Alvernia 4-3 (10-8), 1-4, 10-7. He then cruised in his quarterfinal 4-0, 4-0 against Jacob Devage of Eastern to book his ticket to a semifinal match against Jaden Bonta of Stevenson.

First year Rodneil Senson (Richmond, TX/William B. Travis) won his first round No. 6 singles match 4-1, 4-0 over Albright's Nick Bush. Senson then went 4-2, 4-1 to win his quarterfinal against Eastern's Ryan Kratz. He will play Matthew Emery of FDU-Florham in a semifinal matchup tomorrow.

First year Connor Frey (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) took his No. 7 singles first round match 4-1, 4-0 over David Cassel of Arcadia. His quarterfinal against Tyler Schacher was stopped due to darkness and will pick up tomorrow morning. Frey was leading 4-3 (9-7) as the match was stopped after the first set. Brian Li of Stevens Institute of Technology awaits the winner for a semifinal matchup.

First year Nick Putney (Norfolk, MA/King Phillip Regional) defeated Will Pollick of DeSales 4-1, 4-2 in the first round of the No. 2 singles bracket. He then battled Jeff Bauer of Lebanon Valley in a terrific quarterfinal. Putney eventually lost 3-4 (6-8), 4-2, 8-10.

Third-seeded sophomore Jacob Bosler (Elkton, MD/Elkton) won a tight No. 5 singles first round match over Jason Anderson of Lycoming 4-2, 4-3 (7-1). Sathwik Madasi of Stevenson then knocked off Bosler 4-3 (7-5), 4-0 in the quarterfinals.

The Colonels went 1-3 during doubles play on the day.

At No. 3 doubles the second-seeded team of Gibson and senior Connor Murphy (Denver, PA/Cocalico) received a bye into the quarterfinal round where they were able to defeat Francis Tamesis and Matthew Nagy of Arcadia 8-3. The duo will face third-seeded Michael Schuetz and Will Harriger of Lebanon Valley tomorrow in the semifinal round.

Putney and Rathe lost a hard fought first round match at No. 1 doubles to third-seeded Justin Schuetz and Adam Warren of Lebanon Valley. The two first year players for the Colonels dropped the match 8-6.

Toussaint and Bosler were seeded second at No. 2 doubles but fell in a tightly contested first-round match to Elias Duthinh and Luke Thatcher of Arcadia. The Knights duo took the match 8-7, winning the tiebreak 8-6.

Sophomores Donovan Zong (Bethlehem, PA/Salisbury Township) and Jonah Nguyen (Enola, PA/East Pennsboro Area) lost their quarterfinal match in No. 4 doubles to Matt Kolongowski and Matthew Emery of FDU-Florham by an 8-1 score.

Action resumes tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. with the semifinal round of doubles. The semifinal round of singles will follow. Then it is on to the singles finals before the doubles finals wrap up action at the 2021 MAC Individual Championship.