ERIE, Pa. -- The Edinboro men's tennis team honored their three seniors before the match against No. 36 West Virginia Wesleyan, but fell, 5-3 to the visiting Bobcats at Westwood Racquet Club in Erie. With the loss, the Fighting Scots fall to 8-7 on the season while the Bobcats improve to 9-3.

Seniors Vitor Albanese, Daniel Fernandez, and Dishon Brooks all were honored for their four years of playing for Edinboro. 

All three doubles matches were close. Mauricio Santos and Kevin Mboko jumped out to a 4-1 lead over Lukas Laipold and Ferran Berga at number three doubles before holding on for the 8-6 victory. Albanese and Mateus Santos fell at the top doubles spot, 8-6. Fernandez and Christian Roettger kept their match within one game until then end before the Bobcats pulled away for the 8-4 win at number two doubles.

It looked like singles would be a reversal of fortune with three different Fighting Scots up a break in their first sets. Albanese quickly took his first set before closing out with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Laipold at No. 1. The Bobcats clinched the match with a win at number two singles in three sets, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. With the match already decided and number six singles just finishing their first set, the match was stopped due to the four hour drive WV Wesleyan as facing back to Buckhannon. Roettger was leading 7-5 when the match was stopped. 

Edinboro returns to the court on Thursday, April 5 when they visit West Liberty for a 2:00 p.m. match. The Fighting Scots have seen the Hilltoppers twice this fall in tournament action, with Albanese and Fernandez winning a pair of matches at the Hilltopper Classic and the ITA Atlantic Regional. 


Singles
1. Vitor Albanese (EU) def. Lukas Laipold (WVWC) 6-1, 7-5
2. Maycon Santos Diaz (WVWC) def. Daniel Fernandez (EU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
3. Ramon Rodriguez (WVWC) def. Mateus Santos (EU) 6-3, 6-3 
4. Harry Simaioforidis (WVWC) def. Mauricio Santos (EU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Kevin Mboko (EU) def. Yonas Gebre (WVWC) 7-6, ret.
6. Christian Roettger (EU) Thomas McIntosh (WVWC) 7-5, unfinished

Doubles
1. Santos Diaz/Gebre (WVWC) def. Albanese/Mateus Santos (EU) 8-6
2. Rodriguez/Simaioforidis (WVWC) def. Fernandez/Roettger (EU) 8-4
3. Mauricio Santos/Mboko (EU) def. Laipold/Ferran Berga (WVWC) 8-6


Edinboro: 8-7
WV Wesleyan: 9-3