North Andover, Mass. - The Adelphi University men's tennis team sat just one point from claiming the program's first Northeast-10 Championship crown against the Merrimack College Warriors on Saturday afternoon, but the top-seeded Warriors claimed the decisive points at No. 6 at No. 1 singles to claim their third NE-10 title in four years, 5-4.

The Panthers, competing in their first NE-10 Championship, got off to a strong start by taking a 2-1 lead at the close of doubles play. After dropping the first point of the match when Merrimack's second doubles team of Vince Bellino and Miguel Belfort rolled past Sander Brenner and Justin Vijungco, 8-2, the Brown and Gold won the other two flights to move ahead. Chiwete Njokanma and Sebastian Zapata edged a close victory at No. 3, 8-6, before Uladzislau Litvinchuk and Matteo Cannavera rallied to claim a 9-8 win in the pro set at No. 1.

The Warriors got off to a strong start in singles, building a lead at multiple flights in the early going. Belfort put the first point on the board for Merrimack when he conceded just two games against Litvinchuk at No. 2, and moved ahead behind a 6-4, 6-1 win by Frank Vega over Zapata at No. 5. Moments later, however, straight set wins by Njokanma and Brenner put Adelphi one point away from the championship at 4-3. 

The first decisive match came at No. 6 singles, where Vijungco let a 5-2 lead get away in the opening set en route to dropping the opener, 7-5. In a tight affair, it was Vega who held strong down the stretch to record a 7-5, 6-4 victory and tie the match at 4-4. In the final match, Merrimack sophomore Steven Francis won the first set over reigning NE-10 Player of the Year Cannavera, 6-1, before the freshman rallied to claim a late break in the second set and served to force at decider at 6-5. However, Francis got the break of serve right back and proved the stronger in the ensuing tiebreak to hand Cannavera his first loss to an NE-10 opponent this year and claim Merrimack's title. 

"I am very proud of this squad for making the final.  Merrimack was the best team of the season and deserved the result," Head Coach Michael Misiti stated. "We've  have worked very hard to push this program from a fifth place team to one that contends for championships and in just three short years we have accomplished that goal. I am proud of the program and the work and trust the team has put in.  This was a special team this year, and they will all look back at this season with fond memories."

Doubles
1. Matteo Cannavera/Uladzislau Litvinchuk  (ADE) def. Steven Francis/Mikhail Belov (MER) 9-8
2. Vince Bellino/Miguel Belfort (MER) def. Sander Brenner/Justin Vijungco (ADE) 8-2
3. Chiwete Njokanma/Sebastian Zapata (ADE) def. Frank Vega/Nick Majewski (MER) 8-6

Singles
1. Francis (MER) def. Cannavera (ADE) 6-1, 7-6
2. Belfort (MER) def. Litvinchuk (ADE) 6-0, 6-2
3. Brenner (ADE) def. Belov (MER) 7-5, 6-1
4. Njokanma (ADE) def. Bellino (MER) 6-4, 6-4
5. Vega (MER) def. Zapata (ADE) 6-4, 6-1
6. Majewski (MER) def. Vijungco (ADE) 7-5, 6-4

The Panthers, who checked in at No. 7 in the latest NCAA East Regional poll released Wednesday, will now await their fate and see if they are handed an at-large bid to the regional tournament. The NCAA Selection Show is will be streamed live on Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. at www.ncaa.com.