HAMILTON, N.Y. (4/9/11) – The Colgate men's tennis team dropped its fifth 4-3 decision of the season this afternoon as Lehigh took today's Patriot League match.

Colgate (6-11, 1-4 PL) started off the match in a great position by winning the doubles point. Senior captains Phil Bernasek and Ruslan Goussiatnikov won at the top spot by an 8-5 score. After Alec Goldstein and Parker Lewis fell 8-5 in the second position, Luke Gensburg and Sean Spellberg helped the cause with a convincing 8-2 win.

Gensburg continued the success into singles play as he made quick work of last year's Patriot League Player of the Year in straight sets. Lehigh's Troy List had no answer for Gensburg as the Colgate rookie earned the 6-3, 6-2 win, and it was his 12th win of the dual season. Lehigh then won in the second through fifth spots to win four points. The wins at the second and third spots came in three sets. Bobby Berkowitz and Goldstein both came back in their matches, but dropped the final set.

Goussiatnikov and Bernasek were defeated in straight sets at the fourth and fifth spots, respectively. Each player fell 7-6 in the second set. Connor Feuille played a tough match and came out on top in three sets. He dropped the first by a 6-0 score, but fought back with a 7-5 win in set two and finished off his opponent with a 6-1 win in the final set.

“This was our fifth 4-3 decision this year and hopefully we will be able to turn it around when it is time to play in the Patriot League Tournament,” said head coach Bobby Pennington.”

Bernasek and Goussiatnikov played in their final match on their home court on Saturday. Bernasek finished his regular season with a 6-7 mark overall in the fourth and fifth spots in the lineup. Goussiatnikov had a mark of 8-8 from the third, fourth and fifth positions. The pair posted six wins this regular season as the top doubles team for the Raiders.

Next up for Colgate is the Patriot League Championship at Lehigh on April 15 through the 17th.

Lehigh 4, Colgate 3
Doubles
1. Bernasek/Goussiatnikov (CU) def. List/Laffey (Lehigh) 8-5
2. Saavran/Krentz (Lehigh) def. Goldstein/Parker Lewis (CU) 8-5
3. Gensburg/Sean Spellberg (CU) def. Krueger/Goldberg (Lehigh) 8-2

Singles
1. Luke Gensburg (CU) def. List (Lehigh) 6-3, 6-2
2. Laffey (Lehigh) def. Bobby Berkowitz (CU) 6-1, 0-6, 6-2
3. Saavran (Lehigh) def. Alec Goldstein (CU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-0
4. Goldberg (Lehigh) def. Ruslan Goussiatnikov (CU) 6-1, 7-6
5. Krueger (Lehigh) def. Phil Bernasek (CU) 6-4, 7-6
6. Connor Feuille (CU) def. Krentz (Lehigh) 0-6, 7-5, 6-1