Flushing, N.Y. – For the first time since 2012, the Queens College Knights are East Coast Conference (ECC) Men's Tennis Champions. The Knights dethroned four-time defending ECC Champion NYIT, 5-1, to reclaim the title on Saturday afternoon on the QC Tennis Center.
After the Bears had won each of the last three ECC Finals matches against the Knights, it was Queens who earned its revenge on Saturday. This comes after the Knights snapped the Bears' 29-match ECC win streak in an 8-1 win earlier this season.
Queens took the advantage in doubles competition, holding a 2-1 lead heading into singles. The Knights then won the first three singles matches at second, third and sixth singles.
Sophomore Cosme Jubera and junior Jui Mao teamed up for an 8-4 win over David Jiang and Maxton Cook at No. 2 doubles. Juniors Gabriel Mendez and Lucas Martinez also captured a doubles win, 8-3, over Alexandre Martinez and Jaime Salvador in the third position. Meanwhile, NYIT picked up the point at No. 1 doubles, as Rafal Charkiewicz and Rares Ispas defeated senior Sharvill Nawghre and junior Roman Laga, 8-4.
Laga cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 win in the sixth spot over Salvador to give Queens a 3-1 lead. Then Nawghre and Mendez came away victorious at second and third singles to clinch the title for Queens. Nawghre, the ECC Player of the Year, took a 6-3, 6-4 win over Francisco Caldas at No. 2 singles, while Mendez sealed the deal by earning a 6-4, 6-3 win over Ispas in the third slot.
Queens, the top ranked team in the NCAA East Regional Rankings, has won six matches in a row. The Knights will wait to see what comes next when the NCAA Tournament field is announced on Tuesday, April 25, at 8:30 p.m.
Provided by the Queens Sports Information Department.
