Box Score Clinton, NY – The SUNY Oneonta men's tennis team defeated the Hamilton Continentals today 5-4 in a tightly contested battle.  The victory, which was the fourth straight for Oneonta, ended a 15-year drought against a NESCAC opponent.  The NESCAC is arguably the top conference in Division III.

Doubles play began with the number one team of junior Michael Nelson (Manhasset/Manhasset) and freshman Nicholas Fox (Commack/Commack) dismantling the Continentals tandem in almost flawless fashion.  The only hiccup came early in the match when the Red Dragon pair's serve was broken.  They quickly got the break back with Fox's great returns and from then on were never in trouble as the Red Dragons held and broke serve again late in the match.  Since this duo has been paired in the early spring they have suffered only one loss.

The freshman pair of Joseph D'Orazio (Smithtown/Smithtown) and Andrew Emanuel (Rye/Rye), competing at the number two position, never got into any trouble as they got the first break early in the match and cruised to an 8-1 conquest playing almost immaculate tennis by controlling the tempo with deep serves and dominate net play.

Singles play began with the Red Dragon men holding a 2-1 edge.  The drama ensued as, Nelson playing at number one, cruised to a dominant first set victory with a 6-1 score.  However, in the second set Nelson was serving for the match twice and was broken each time and the match was forced to a third set where Nelson regained his composure and cruised to a 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 win.

Emanuel, playing at number three singles, was broken only once the whole match and went on to win 6-4, 6-4 and at that time the Red Dragons then needed one more singles win to secure the historical victory.  Not without drama though, as D'Orazio lost the first set to a big Continental lefty opponent with overpowering serves and D'Orazio just trying to find his rhythm.  He settled down and began to make great returns and grinded out the second set 6-4.  The deciding third set had what champions are made of…two guys battling out for their teams, big serves, great returns and long rallies.  With D'Orazio's teammates on the sideline pulling for him and the players holding serve the big moment came when Oneonta broke to go up 5-4. D'Orazio closed the match out on his serve with the final point sailing long and with that the long drought came to an end as his teammates jubilantly embraced him and celebrated the team accomplishment.

The SUNY Oneonta men's tennis team goes back on the road again to play at SUNY Purchase on Friday, April 1^st beginning at 4 PM on their campus.
 
Doubles competition
1. Michael Nelson (Manhasset/Manhasset)/Nicholas Fox (Commack/Commack) (ONEMT) def. Max McKEE-PROCTOR/Austin LOKRE (HAM) 8-52. Joseph 2. D'Orazio/Andrew Emanuel (Rye/Rye) (ONEMT) def. Ian ANTONOFF/Lars SCANNELL (HAM) 8-1
3. Jonathan COHEN/Alex STREICH (HAM) def. Timothy Distler/Joseph Morris (Bainbridge/Sidney Senior High School) (ONEMT) 8-5
 
Singles competition
1. Michael Nelson (Manhasset/Manhasset) (ONEMT) def. Ian ANTONOFF (HAM) 6-1, 5-7, 6-3
2. Joseph D'Orazio (Smithtown/Smithtown) (ONEMT) def. Max McKEE-PROCTOR (HAM) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
3. Andrew Emanuel (Rye/Rye) (ONEMT) def. Jonathan COHEN (HAM) 6-4, 6-4
4. Lars SCANNELL (HAM) def. Cole Laffitte (East Setauket/Ward Melville) (ONEMT) 6-3, 6-3
5. Jack VISSICCHIO (HAM) def. Zach Lasky (Colonie/Colonie) (ONEMT) 6-2, 6-3
6. Burke PAXTON (HAM) def. Damien Prohaska (Binghamton/Binghamton High School) (ONEMT) 6-3, 6-1