The No. 3 ranked Emory University men's tennis team celebrated its Senior Day Sunday afternoon, defeating Washington & Lee University by an 8-1 decision on the indoor courts of the Woodruff PE Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Following the conclusion of the match, the Eagles honored their graduating class of Nolan Shah, Ryan Glanville, Brandon Cohen, Samuel Dean, Justin Waldman and Sujay Sharma with a special recognition.
After dropping a tough 4-3 decision at NAIA powerhouse Tennessee Wesleyan on Saturday, the Eagles bounced back in a big way to finish the regular season with a 14-4 record. With the defeat, the Generals fell to 12-6.
In the doubles portion of the match, the Eagles took two of three courts to head into singles with a 2-1 advantage. Shah and sophomore Dean Kamenev won their 20th match of the season together, earning an 8-3 triumph on court two. The duo now stands 20-4 on the year and 12-3 at the No. 2 position. The other doubles win came on the No. 3 line as Dean and freshman Christian Liew pulled out an 8-7 (4) win. The victory marked the 10th of the season as they improved to 10-4 overall including an 8-3 mark in the spring.
As the match moved to singles, the Eagles used their lineup depth to clinch the match with ease, winning all six matches in straight sets.
With the match moving indoors due to rain in the morning, the top four positions were the first to take the courts. Shah and Waldman trounced their opponents by 6-4, 6-2 and 6-2, 6-1 results on courts two and four. Kamenev and Glanville both were pushed to first set tiebreakers but ultimately pulled away with 7-6 (3), 6-2 and 7-6 (2), 6-2 decisions.
Liew and junior Emilio Van Cotthem closed out the match with victories at the No. 5 and No. 6 spots. Liew picked up his team-leading 16th win with a 6-0, 6-4 result before Van Cotthem ended the afternoon with a 6-1, 6-4 win at the sixth position.
The Eagles now turn their attention to the UAA Championships which will get underway Thursday morning at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Florida.