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Squad Outlasts Eastern, Takes Five Singles Matches For 6-3 Win
Posted: 3/27/2009
Box Score | More Men's Tennis news
Freshman Mike Elliott was one of four players that saw their singles match last three sets Friday at Eastern.

Saint Davids, PA — A strong showing from the middle part of the lineup pushed Messiah to its second straight win Friday, as the Falcons handed host Eastern University a 6-3 defeat.

With top players Jansen Hein (sophomore) and Sam Shorts (senior) coming up empty in two of three opportunities, it was a youth movement and a valiant return from injury that propelled Messiah (3-5) to its latest win.

Junior Luke Ruch returned to the court for the first time since spraining both ankles during the team’s spring break trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina, taking out Eastern’s Bryan Arnett by a 7-6, 2-6, 10-7 score at the number three singles slot while teaming with freshman Mike Elliott for an 8-4 win in number two doubles action.

That tandem accounted for the Falcons’ only point in doubles play, as the pairing of Hein and Shorts at number one and the duo of freshmen Andrew Wismer and Adam Sheir at number three each dropped an 8-5 decision.

In the top doubles match, Hein was unable to find his service rhythm while Shorts continued to toy with his groundstroke work. Meanwhile, Wismer and Sheir were playing for the first time together since Ruch’s injury, putting Messiah at risk of going down 3-0 heading into singles play.

Not that it would have mattered.

The Falcons claimed wins at each singles position save for the top spot, where Hein dropped a marathon 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 decision to the Eagles Michael Roth. That was one of four singles matches to go the distance, as Shorts (a 6-3, 5-7, 10-8 win at number two), Elliott (6-4, 4-6, 10-7 at number four) and Ruch all came out on top of their long-distance events.

“Singles were all about third sets and close matches today,” said Sheila Bush, Messiah head coach. “Our young players really stepped up, and it was obviously great to have Luke back in the lineup.”

Wismer and Sheir provided the team with its most convincing wins of the day, as the former handed Eastern’s Dan Wilson an 8-1 super-set loss in the fifth flight (fading sunlight forced that match into truncated scoring) while Sheir registered his third singles win of the year in a 6-3, 6-4 win over the Eagles’ Josh Hall at number six.

That left Shorts, Ruch and Elliiott to pick up key, three-set victories — which they all did. Shorts served his way to victory against Eastern’s Jordan Gates, as the lanky senior’s dynamic service won him the first set easily and propelled him to an early 5-2 lead in the second.

Gates would not got down quietly, however, as the Eastern junior would come back to win the second set 7-5. With sunlight fading, the two played a super breaker for the third set, with Shorts coming through with some big serves, volleys and breaks to win the first of what would be three matches determined by tie breakers.

Ruch captured his first set in a breaker, but fell off in the second set and lost it, bringing on another super breaker.

Like Shorts, Ruch also came out on top, defeating his foe in a close 10-7 decision.

Elliott finalized the team result with a strong first set win, falling behind in the second by a 5-0 score. Elliott brought things back to 4-5 before eventually losing 4-6 — setting up yet another tie-breaker.

Just as Shorts and Ruch had done, Elliott won a close 10-7 decision.

“This was another good win for our team, especially for our younger players,” Bush said. “They continue to gain much needed experience and confidence.”

Messiah will take the rest of the weekend off before returning to play Monday, as the team will host a talented York College squad. Match time is set for 3:30 p.m.