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Program Keeps Conference Streak Alive In 6-3 Win At Lyco
Posted: 3/31/2009
Box Score | More Men's Tennis news
Sophomore Jansen Hein stayed unbeaten in conference play as a collegian Tuesday.

Williamsport, PA — Less than 24 hours removed from watching one streak end, the Messiah men’s tennis team made sure another would not, as the Falcons handed host Lycoming College a 6-3 loss to open both squads’ 2009 MAC Commonwealth seasons.

Messiah (4-6, 1-0) dropped its first home contest since the 2005 season yesterday to York College — a result that snapped a 16-match home winning streak. Tuesday afternoon at Lycoming College (1-1, 0-1) the Falcons ran their regular-season conference winning streak to 18 matches, as the program has not lost a league match since the 2005 campaign.

“We understand the importance of conference play,” said Sheila Bush, Messiah head coach. “It’s the only way we have a chance of making it to (NCAA) post-season play. That, and a conference championship, are always what we’re striving for.”

Bush’s team got off to a fast start Tuesday afternoon against the Warriors, taking all three doubles matches to race out to a 3-0 lead overall. Lyco’s top doubles tandem of Alexander Beattie and Robert Brown provided the most resistance in an 8-4 loss to sophomore Jansen Hein and senior Sam Shorts, while Messiah’s number two team claimed an 8-1 thumping while the Falcons’ third flight earned an 8-2 win.

Hein, freshman Mike Elliott and freshman Adam Sheir would all go unbeaten on the day, as the trio provided Messiah with its three points in singles play. Sheir captured a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 decision over Lyco’s John McDonough at the number six singles slot, while Elliott finished a 7-6, 7-2, 6-2 marathon over the Warriors’ Phillip Shannon at the number four position.

Hein, meanwhile, cruised to his sixth singles win of the season in a 6-3, 6-2 defeat of Lyco’s Robert Brown, bringing Hein’s overall collegiate conference record to 6-0 in regular-season play. Hein’s win with Shorts at the top doubles position also kept him unbeaten within league play in that category as well.

“Adam Sheir, Mike Elliott and Jansen Hein all played well in singles,” Bush said.

After playing two matches in two days, Messiah will now get a momentary break, returning to league play Saturday against Arcadia University. The Falcons will host the Knights at 1 p.m.