Andover, Mass. -- In a rematch of last season's Northeast-10 Championship, it was the Adelphi University men's tennis team that flipped the script from a year ago and defeated the Warriors, 5-1, in the 2016 semifinals to advance to their second straight NE-10 Championship match.

The Panthers (11-7), seeded No. 3 in the tournament, upset the No. 2 seeded Warriors behind two wins from NE-10 Player of the Year Matteo Cannavera and All-Conference performer Uladzislau Litvinchuk, while freshman Daniel Khodosh delivered the clincher at No. 6 singles. 

Khodosh and Sander Brenner recorded an 8-2 win for the Brown and Gold at No. 3 doubles to open the match, before Adelphi took a 2-0 lead behind an 8-4 win at No. 1 doubles for Cannavera and Litvinchuk. However, the Warriors (10-9) ensured the Panthers wouldn't go into singles with a sweep as Miguel Belfort and Frank Vega defeated Connor Dove and Roey Heymann at No. 2 doubles, 8-5.

Litvinchuk kept rolling in singles as he was a 6-3, 6-2 winner for Adelphi's first point, before Cannavera put them one point away from winning with a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 1. While Merrimack led at two of the other four flights, Khodosh completeted Adelphi's victory with a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 6 to seal their return to the championship.

"The men came in ready to win today and their determination proved that with a great start in doubles and singles," Interim Head Coach Joanna Haich said. "We look forward to making another appearance in the NE-10 final on Sunday."

NOTES
- The Panthers will face the winner of top-seeded Southern New Hampshire and No. 4 Bentley.
- Adelphi was ranked No. 7 in the latest edition of the NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, while Merrimack checked in at No. 6.

Doubles
1. Matteo Cannavera/Uladzislau Litvinchuk (ADE) def. Laurence Akwei/Mikhail Belov (MER) 8-4
2. Miguel Belfort/Frank Vega (MER) def. Connor Dove/Roey Heymann (ADE) 8-5
3. Sander Brenner/Daniel Khodosh (ADE) def. Nick Majewski/Tyler Clontz (MER) 8-2

Singles
1. Matteo Cannavera (ADE) def. Mikhail Belov (MER) 6-1, 6-4
2. Uladzislau Litvinchuk (ADE) def. Nick Majewski (MER) 6-3, 6-2
3. Sander Brenner (ADE) vs. Frank Vega (MER) 7-6(2) unfinished
4. Miguel Belfort (MER) vs. Sebastian Zapata (ADE) 6-1, 4-1 unfinished
5. Laurence Akwei (MER) vs. Roey Heymann (ADE) 6-1, 4-3 unfinished
6. Daniel Khodosh (ADE) def. Tayyab Sheikh (MER) 6-2, 6-1

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About Adelphi University Athletics
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009 and in the past six seasons has collected 16 regular season conference titles, 21 tournament championships, 27 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 President's Cup twice (2013 and 2014), while winning five NCAA Division II National Championships.

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