University of New England Athletics

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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Salem State University captured the last three games at #6 singles and final four games at #1 singles to secure the two remaining team points to earn a 4-3 men's tennis result against the University of New England at Blue Cyclone Complex on Monday (Apr. 20).

The Vikings (5-5) needed to climb out of a 3-1 deficit for the win, and took the first step in that direction when Mark Wood took four out of the last five points in a tiebreaker at #3 singles to salvage a 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) decision for the visitors. 

In a contest full of momentum shifts at #6 singles, Salem State's Michael Makiej claimed the seven unanswered games to go up 6-4, 3-0. However, UNE's Andy Young soon countered with five in-a-row to pick up his first solo set victory of the year and force a third frame. Young led 2-0 and 4-3 in the deciding stanza, but Makiej was able to right the ship late for a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 outcome that leveled the overall match.

Early on in the slugfest at #1 singles, Drake Turcotte notched the first three games and the last three to take the opening set for the Nor'easters, 6-3. On the other side of the net for the Vikings, Quentin Wilkins held serve, broke serve, and held again to gain a 5-3 edge in the second. While Turcotte managed to stay alive with a hold and a break, and then another break at 5-6, Wilkins was able to snag the last three points of the ensuing tiebreaker to extend the match. In the third, Turcotte registered four straight games to move ahead 4-2, but Wilkins found a path to two more breaks on the way to a 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 win that put Salem State over the top.

UNE did just enough to chalk up the initial point of the afternoon, on the backs of a #3 doubles victory (6-3) by Logan Flor and Finnegan Whelden, and then a #2 doubles triumph by Turcotte and Tyler Mason (7-6), who took the last three points to win the tiebreaker by a 7-4 margin. The #1 doubles showdown was in favor of the Nor'easters until it wasn't, as SSU rattled off the final five games.

Things were tied during the initial stages of singles before Liam Miller stormed back on the #2 line with five consecutive games to cap a 6-2, 7-5 victory. Flor added a point for UNE at #4 singles, despite trailing 4-5 during the first frame and 3-5 in the second. He didn't need a tiebreaker in either case, though, and closed the book with a straight-set 7-5, 7-5 win.

The Nor'easters conclude their inaugural season with a 5-9 record.