Garden City, N.Y. - In a match that came down to the wire, the Adelphi University men's tennis team suffered its first Northeast-10 Conference loss of the season at the hands of the Merrimack College Warriors on Friday afternoon. After trailing 2-1 at the close of doubles play, the Brown and Gold's hopes for a comeback were denied by the visiting Warriors, who battled to wins at No. 3 through No. 6 singles to come away with the victory.

Merrimack (5-5, 4-0 NE-10) sent a message in the match early, as Frank Vega and Nick Majewski downed Justin Vijungco and Sebastian Zapata at No. 3 doubles, 8-1. The Warriors put another point on the board with a win at top flight before Uladzislau Litvinchuk and Sander Brenner got Adelphi (5-4, 5-1 NE-10) on the board courtesy of a hard-fought, 9-8(4) tiebreak win at No. 2 doubles.

The Panthers rallied to take a 3-2 lead in the match after Cannavera and Litvinchuk each won their singles matches in straight sets, with both taking their second sets in a tiebreak. Three of the remaining four singles matches went the distance, and the Navy and Gold came out the victors at each flight. Vince Bellino defeated Brenner in two sets at No. 4, while Mikhail Belov bested Chiwete Njokanma in a marathon 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 decision at No. 3. Adelphi held one-set leads at both No. 5 and No. 6 singles with the day's result in the balance, but the Warriors rallied to claim both points as Vega clinched the overall match at No. 5.

Doubles
1. Steven Francis/Mikhail Belov (MER) def. Matteo Cannavera/Chiwete Njokanma (ADE) 8-4
2. Sander Brenner/Uladzislau Litvinchuk (ADE) def. Vince Bellino/Miguel Belfort  (MER) 9-8 (4)
3. Frank Vega/Nick Majewski (MER) def. Justin Vijungco/Sebastian Zapata (ADE) 8-1

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

The Panthers return to action tomorrow when they host the Bentley Flacons in another NE-10 Conference match.