George Washington University
Atlantic 10 Championship
Colonials Lose Heartbreaker to Xavier in A-10 Finals
4/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 18, 2010
MONROEVILLE, PA-- The George Washington men's tennis team lost a 4-3 heartbreaker to Xavier on Sunday afternoon in the final match of the 2010 Atlantic 10 Men's Tennis Championship.
Junior Yan Levinski, at No. 4 singles, battled back after dropping the first set 2-6, to win the second 6-3 to force a third set. Xavier's Bobby Deye won the third set 6-4, for Xavier's third consecutive A-10 title.
At No. 1 singles, Ugur Atalay won a tough three-set match 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, over Chris Herrlinger to tie the team score at 3-3.
GW co-captain Erik Hannah defeated Richard Canelas in straight sets 6-4, 6-3, at No. 2 singles. Fellow junior Chris Kushma also won in straight sets, at No. 3 singles 7-6 (4), 6-2, over Patrick Brandy, to keep the Colonials in contention for the title.
The Colonials dropped what turned out to be the pivotal doubles point when Xavier took the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches. Atalay and Richard Blumenfeld fell to Deye and Brian Starr 8-5 at second doubles while Levinski and Ken Mkrtchian fell 8-6 at third doubles to Marc Pretorius and JT Torbeck.
Heading into the final match of the 2010 Atlantic 10 Men's Tennis Championship, GW was on a five-match winning streak with Kushma on a personal winning streak of eight at the No. 3 singles position.
The Colonials will take on UMBC in a rescheduled match on April 24 at 2:00 p.m. in Baltimore, MD.
#2 XAVIER 4, #1 GEORGE WASHINGTON 3
Doubles
1. Chris Kushma / Erik Hannah (GW) vs. Patrick Bandy/Chris Herrlinger (XU) - 7-6 (DNF)
2. Bobby Deye/Brian Starr (XU) def. Ugur Atalay / Richard Blumenfeld (GW) - 8-5
3. Marc Pretorius/JT Torbeck (XU) def. Yan Levinski / Ken Mkrtchian (GW) - 8-6
Singles 1. Atalay (GW) def. Herrlinger (XU) - 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
2. Hannah (GW) def. Richard Canelas (XU) - 6-4, 6-3
3. Kushma (GW) def. Bandy (XU) - 7-6 (4), 6-2
4. Deye (XU) def. Levinski (GW) - 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
5. Torbeck (XU) def. Blumenfield (GW) - 6-0, 7-5
6. Brandon MacDonald (XU) def. Andy Erickson (GW) - 6-3, 6-3
Players Mentioned
