For the 23rd consecutive season, the Emory University men's tennis team is headed to the national quarterfinals after a thrilling 5-4 victory over NC Wesleyan Sunday afternoon in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
Junior Nolan Shah staved off elimination for the Eagles as he won the final three games in his decisive third set while trailing 4-3 to send Emory onto Orlando. With the win, the Eagles advance to the Elite Eight with a meeting against Tufts University awaiting them next Saturday, May 13 at the USTA National Campus.
Emory found itself in an early hole as the Battling Bishop took control after doubles with wins on two of the three courts. Senior Andrew Esses and freshman John Lasanajak had the 8-6 result at second doubles to avoid the doubles sweep.
Trailing by a 2-1 score, the Eagles saw three straight-set victories in a row to move in front 4-2. Graduate student Charlie James finished first with a 6-2, 6-0 result on court four followed by victories from freshman Dean Kamenev (6-3, 6-2) and sophomore Emilio Van Cotthem (6-1, 6-3) on courts two and five.
NC Wesleyan did not quietly however, living up to its nickname as they began to battle back, taking a straight set win from Esses on court one before topping junior Brandon Cohen in three sets on courts six. With the score knotted at 4-4, all attention turned to court three where Shah was pitted against Tshepo Mosarwa.
Mosarwa had the early advantage as he took the first set 6-2 before Shah leveled the match with a 6-4 win in the second. In the third, Mosarwa surged ahead 4-3 before Shah began capitalizing on his counterpart's miscues to pull off three straight games to clinch the game and match for the Eagles.