The Colgate men’s tennis team closed its regular season competition with a home match against Army dedicated to the team’s four senior team captains. However, the Raiders couldn’t upend the upstart Black Knights, and the match ended in a 4-1 loss.

Army entered the match undefeated in Patriot League play and looked to finish the regular season undefeated. Still, the Raiders did not give Army a quick victory with several players fighting for every set point.

In doubles play, Raider juniors Luke Gensburg and Bobby Berkowitz battled for a victory against Army senior Rashad Shelton and first-year Austin McCasin. The Raider duo bested the Black Knights 8-6 in a long, hard-fought match to earn the lone match point for the Raiders.

In singles play, the Black Knights swept the Raiders. Still,  each match was not easily won as the Raiders presented many challenges for the Black Knights. Before ultimately losing, Berkowitz contended Shelton for each set point and wouldn’t relent. Berkowitz stayed strong throughout the match but he ultimately lost a closely contested match 7-5 in the first set and 6-4 in the second set.

Gensburg also played in a tough match against Black Knight junior Asika Isoh, the reigning Patriot League Player of the Year. Throughout the match, Gensburg fought mightily to keep pace with one of the Patriot League’s top players and remained competitive. Gensburg’s efforts caused Isoh to struggle to close the first set, as Isoh won a tough first set by a narrow 7-6 margin. Gensburg still wouldn’t give up on the match as he fought hard in the second set. But Isoh’s abilities bested Gensburg resulting in Isoh’s 6-3 vicotry to claim the match win.

Colgate senior captain Alec Goldsteinalso played in a competitive match against Black Knight first-year Caison Best. Goldstein faced tough competition in Best, and the two dueled throughout the match. The first set was well-fought with the two opponents fiercely battling for each point. Ultimately, Best won the first set by a close 7-6 margin.

Goldstein was going to need the

secondset to be able to keep his chances of winning alive. However, Goldstein came up short again as Best rallied in the second set to win 6-2 and secure another point for the team score.

Meanwhile, sophomore Alan Pleat faced Black Knight sophomore Alex Van Velzer. Going into the match, Van Velzer was one of the best players in the Patriot League and earned first team all-Patriot League accolades as a first-year the year before. Pleat had his work cut out for him in facing one of the premier players in the conference. Pleat was determined to upend Van Velzer but struggled to keep pace as the Black Knight ran away with the lead in straight sets winning by a 6-3 margin in both sets.

The loss sends the Raiders to a fifth place finish in regular season play, and he win gives Army its sixth undefeated Patriot season in program history. The Raiders look forward to hosting the Patriot League tournament this weekend with a redemption match against their rivals the Bucknell Bisons.

Contact Matt Washuta at

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