Both Oswego State men’s and women’s tennis are heading into the final stretch of their fall season as they hosted Houghton College on Sept. 23 at the Romney Tennis Courts. 

The men’s team came into the matchup with a 1-0 record as they looked to start the season off with two straight wins. 

Lakers head coach Glowaki sent out sophomore duo Zachary Demott and Trevor Stern for the opening duos match but the Highlanders were in full control as Demott and Stern fell 8-3. The Lakers could not bounce back in the second game as they found themselves down 2-0 early. Looking for a spark Ethan Bannochie and Anthony Marcano delivered, dominating the third match by a score of 8-1 and getting Oswego State on the board. 

After the doubles win, it was all Lakers the rest of the way. Austin Davis got the first singles win to tie the match at two. Matthew Mannara and Marcano both followed suit with a singles victory of their own. Bannochie dropped the first set of his singles match 6-3 but won the second set 6-4 to force a third set. In a tight battle, the set went to several tiebreakers as Bannochie came out on top 10-8 to win the match. In the last match of the day Stern handled business winning in straight sets 6-3 and 6-0 and putting the exclamation point on the 6-2 victory. 

The win against the Highlanders puts the Lakers record to 2-0 on the season and ends an eight-game losing skid against Houghton College. 

On the women’s side, the Lakers also fell in the first set to the Highlanders but Emily Lyga and Kathryn Salamida tied the match at one apiece with a controlling 8-1 victory. Oswego State took the final doubles match as Alyx Sperling and Rafaela Dimitrakopulou cruised to an 8-2 victory. Lyga kept her momentum going from the doubles win and took her singles match in straight sets but Houghton College answered with a singles win of their own. 

Heading into the last four singles matches the Lakers held a 3-2 lead and did not look back as they rattled off four straight wins coming from the rackets of Salamida, Sperling, Dimitrakopoulou and Emily Lussier. All these wins came in straight sets and secured the 7-2 Lakers victory and helped them sweep the men’s and women’s matches against the Highlanders. 

After a 3-6 loss to SUNYAC rival, SUNY Geneseo on Sept. 27, the Lakers moved to 4-5 on their season.  

In their next matchups, the men’s team will take on St. John Fisher University at 4 p.m., Friday, Sept. 29 in Rochester. Oswego State have won their last two matchups against the Cardinals and as they look to continue their success. The women’s team will travel south to take on SUNY Cortland at 3 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 4 for their last SUNYAC matchup of the season. This will be a big match for the Lakers as the Red Dragons sit in first place in the SUNYAC with a 4-1 conference record.

Photo by: Oswego Athletics