SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford men's tennis team fell to Mercer, 5-2, on a cold and windy Tuesday afternoon at Reeves Tennis Center.
 
The loss drops the Terriers to 9-6 on the season and 0-1 in Southern Conference action. Mercer improves to 16-2 on the season with the win.
 
In doubles competition, the Terriers outlasted the Bears to win two of three matches and take the 1-0 lead heading into singles play. While Mercer took the first doubles match, 6-4, in the no. 1 position, the Terriers answered with a 6-4 win of their own at no. 3, behind Jack Thomas and Lucas Cerbelli. The point came down to the number two team of Patrick Longest and Andrew Graham, who won their match 7-6 (7-4) to give Wofford momentum going into singles.
 
Unfortunately, Mercer took control in singles action, winning five out of seven  matches to earn the victory.
 
First, the Bears' Ruben Vanoppen defeated Julian Chousa, 6-0, 6-3, in the no. 4 position. Soon after, Mercer received wins from Sam Philp in the no. 2 spot and Fernando Guardia at no. 4, which put the Terriers just one loss away from dropping the match.
 
Mercer clinched the match with Olivier Stuart's 6-2, 6-4 win over Parks Schoen in the no. 3 position.
 
With the match clinched, Wofford's Kyle Barr and Haris Poric both rallied to force third set tiebreakers. Barr fell in his match, 5-7, 6-4, 0-1 (6-10). However, Poric came back to win his match, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 1-0 (10-5) in the no. 1 spot.
 
Up next, the Terriers will be back in action tomorrow afternoon, as they step out of conference to play the University of Texas Rio-Grande at 2 p.m.
 
 
 
Doubles Results:

1. Sam Philp/Olivier Stuart (MER) def. Haris Poric/Julian Chousa (WOF) 6-4
2. Andrew Graham/Patrick Longest (WOF) def. Nicolas Guillon/Fernando Guardia (MER) 7-6 (7-4)
3. Lucas Cerbelli/Jack Thomas (WOF) def. Ruben Vanoppen/E. Tsiranidis (MER) 6-4

 
Singles Results:

1. Haris Poric (WOF) def. Nicolas Guillon 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 1-0 (10-5)
2. Sam Philp (MER) def. Lucas Cerbelli (WOF) 6-2, 6-3
3. Olivier Stuart (MER) def. Parks Schoen (WOF) 6-2, 6-4
4. Fernando Guardia (MER) def. Jack Thomas (WOF) 6-2, 6-2
5. Ruben Vanoppen (MER) def. Julian Chousa (WOF) 6-0, 6-3
6. E. Tsiranidis (MER) def. Kyle Barr (WOF) 7-5, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6)