SPORTS BRIEF: At ECAC Division I Invitational, Harvard Falls to Manhattan

In its first match of the ECAC Division I Invitational—taking place at the USTA National Tennis Center from Friday, Sept. 29th through today—the Harvard men’s tennis team came out sluggishly and fell victim to a prepared and tough No. 11-ranked Manhattan squad.

The 4-3 loss hinged on the singles play of the Crimson as it dropped three straight matches in spots two through four to lose the match. Senior Scott Denenberg and sophomore Michael Kalfayan earned wins of 6-2. 6-3 and 6-2, 6-7, 10-6, respectively, in their singles matches.

Junior Gareth Doran had to retire in his singles match with the score at 3-2 in the first set after he and freshman Michael Hayes had pulled out a victory in their doubles match. The other victory in doubles play, which earned the doubles point, came from the team of Denenberg and senior Gideon Valkin.

The following day, Saturday, proved to be more positive for the Crimson as it swept past No. 14 seed St. Joseph’s 7-0. Harvard dropped only one match—one of the three doubles matches—and within its singles play only lost a single set.

Rain and other inclement weather created havoc with the scheduling yesterday, and the tenth-place match against Boston College had yet to be played. The only complete results from yesterday morning belonged to the tournament semifinalists. No. 5 Columbia upset the top-ranked Brown Bears to make it to the finals, where the Lions will face No. 2 seed Penn.

—THE CRIMSON STAFF