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Daniel Fernandez Kevin Mboko vs. Mercyhurst
Jacob McCool

Men's Tennis Dan Graham, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Edinboro Battles Mercyhurst to Deciding Set, Comes Up Just Short 5-4 in NCAA Atlantic Region I Semifinals

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – The Edinboro University men's tennis team saw another historic season come to an end on Sunday morning. Despite rallying from a 4-1 deficit to tie the match at 4-4, the Fighting Scots came up just short in the decisive match, falling to Mercyhurst, 5-4, in the NCAA Atlantic Region I Semifinals, hosted by Bluefield State. Edinboro, who ended the year at 15-7, was the fourth seed in the region, with Mercyhurst, now 15-8, the fifth seed. The Lakers will now take on top-seeded Bluefield State in the sub-region finals Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
 
The contest was actually played on Saturday, but the deciding match between Kevin Mboko and Conor McCooey at number-five singles was suspended due to lightning and inclement weather. Mboko won the first set, 7-5, with Conor McCooey taking set two by the same score. Conor McCooey held a 3-0 lead in the tiebreaker set before the match was stopped. Things picked up at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, with Conor McCooey going on to win set three, 6-0, for the Lakers.
 
While the defeat ended Edinboro's hopes of a second straight Atlantic Sub-region title and third in four years, head coach Lee Underwood's team turned in another solid season. The Fighting Scots appeared in their fourth straight NCAA Tournament after appearing in their fourth consecutive PSAC Championship. Edinboro also completed its third straight regular season sweep of PSAC opponents, while extending their conference winning streak to as much as 28 matches, including the postseason, which dated back to 2014. Underwood was recently named the PSAC Coach of the Year for the fourth straight year and fifth in the last six years.
 
The semifinals contest not only marked a rematch of last weekend's conference finals match between Edinboro and Mercyhurst, but also marked the third meeting between both sides in less than three weeks. The Lakers defeated the Fighting Scots in the PSAC Finals by a 5-4 score, denying the Boro its fourth consecutive PSAC crown. Edinboro did defeat Mercyhurst, 5-4, in its regular season finale. The two teams have met in the conference finals each of the last three seasons, and even squared off in last year's NCAA Atlantic Region II Championship, with Edinboro pulling out a 5-3 victory.
 
Edinboro exited the doubles competition trailing, 2-1. The number-two tandem of Mboko and Daniel Fernandez provided an 8-4 win for the Scots over Conor McCooey and Joaquin Aguilera. Vitor Albanese and Mateus Santos fell to Nenad Terzic and Coleman McCooey, 8-5, at one, while Mauricio Santos and Alexander Anderson dropped an 8-3 decision at three to Sebastian Pardo and Arseniy Sklyarov.
 
Fernandez and Mateus Santos dropped their singles matches at two and four, respectively, as Mercyhurst pulled to within one of a victory at 4-1. The Fighting Scots, however, refused to go down quietly, storming back with three straight wins to knot the match up at 4-4. After dropping his first set, 4-6, Albanese downed Terzic by matching 6-3 scores in the second and third sets to win the number-one spot. Thomas McCoy then went on to defeat Sklyarov, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 at six, while Mauricio Santos beat Aguilera, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 at three.
 
Albanese finished up another outstanding season for Edinboro. The junior from Brazil, who was recently selected the PSAC Athlete of the Year for the second straight year, posted another 30-win season, going 31-4 in the top singles spot. He also earned a first-team all-conference singles spot for the third straight year, along with him and Mateus Santos earning first-team honors in doubles. The tandem earned a 15-3 record on the season. Mateus Santos also received second-team All-PSAC honors, going 17-11 on the year.
 
Fernandez and Mboko earned a first-team all-league doubles spot, finishing the year with a team-best 17-2 mark. Fernandez also made the first team in singles, going 16-10 in the second spot. Mauricio Santos also received a first-team singles spot for Edinboro, finishing second on the team with a 24-8 record at number-three singles.
 
Singles competition
1. Vitor Albanese (EDIN-M) def. Nenad Terzic (MER-M) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
2. Cormac McCooey (MER-M) def. Daniel Fernandez (EDIN-M) 6-3, 6-2
3. Mauricio Santos (EDIN-M) def. Joaquin Aguilera (MER-M) 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5
4. Sebastian Pardo (MER-M) def. Mateus Santos (EDIN-M) 6-1, 6-3
5. Conor McCooey (MER-M) def. Kevin Mboko (EDIN-M) 5-7, 7-5, 6-0
6. Thomas McCoy (EDIN-M) def. Arseniy Sklyarov (MER-M) 6-2, 5-7, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Nenad Terzic/Cormac McCooey (MER-M) def. Vitor Albanese/Mateus Santos (EDIN-M) 8-5
2. Daniel Fernandez/Kevin Mboko (EDIN-M) def. Conor McCooey/Joaquin Aguilera (MER-M) 8-4
3. Sebastian Pardo/Arseniy Sklyarov (MER-M) def. Mauricio Santos/Alexander Anderson (EDIN-M) 8-3
 
Match Notes:
Mercyhurst 15-8; Regional ranking #5
Edinboro 15-7; Regional ranking #4
Order of finish:
Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,2,1,6,3,5)
Atlantic Regional #1 Semi-Final
Official: Mark & Andy Sarver T-5:00 A-5
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Players Mentioned

Vitor Albanese

Vitor Albanese

6' 1"
Junior
Daniel Fernandez

Daniel Fernandez

6' 4"
Junior
Kevin Mboko

Kevin Mboko

6' 2"
Sophomore
Thomas McCoy

Thomas McCoy

5' 9"
Sophomore
Mateus Santos

Mateus Santos

5' 8"
Sophomore
Mauricio Santos

Mauricio Santos

5' 7"
Sophomore
Alexander Anderson

Alexander Anderson

6' 2"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Vitor Albanese

Vitor Albanese

6' 1"
Junior
Daniel Fernandez

Daniel Fernandez

6' 4"
Junior
Kevin Mboko

Kevin Mboko

6' 2"
Sophomore
Thomas McCoy

Thomas McCoy

5' 9"
Sophomore
Mateus Santos

Mateus Santos

5' 8"
Sophomore
Mauricio Santos

Mauricio Santos

5' 7"
Sophomore
Alexander Anderson

Alexander Anderson

6' 2"
Sophomore