THE BASICS:
 
- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (J.B. Carr Tennis Bubble)
 
- Scores:
MIT - 5, Merrimack - 2
MIT - 6, Franklin Pierce - 1

- Records: No. 31 MIT (5-3), Merrimack (5-5), Franklin Pierce (3-4)
 
- The Lead: The No. 31 MIT men's tennis team cruised to two victories over non-Division III opponents on Saturday afternoon in the J.B. Carr Tennis Bubble. The Engineers defeated DI Merrimack 5-2 and followed that with a 6-1 win over DII Franklin Pierce. Both matches were played under the Division One scoring system with doubles counting as one point and the teams playing a best of seven contest.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED vs. MERRIMACK
 
- The Engineers won two of three doubles to take a 1-0 lead into singles action. Senior Derek Shen (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) and junior Kailas Kahler (Pawtucket, R.I.) got the 6-1 win in No. 1 doubles and senior Daniel Papacica (Carmel, Calif.) and junior Joseph Li (Naperville, Ill.) took three doubles by a 6-2 margin.
 
- Senior Richter Jordaan (Denver, Colo.) got the first singles win for MIT with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Andre Singer in No. 2 singles.
 
- In one single, Kahler pulled out the straight-set win to put the Engineers up 3-1 and senior Benji Grossman (Sands Point, N.Y.) came from behind to win six singles in three sets to put MIT up 4-2.
 
- Sophomore Wayne Nelms (Baltimore, Md.) wrapped up singles play with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win in six singles.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED vs. FRANKLIN PIERCE
 
- MIT fell behind after doubles with the visitors taking a 1-0 lead with wins in one and three doubles. Papacica and junior Daniel Sharygin (Newburgh, Ind.) took a 6-2 win in two doubles.
 
- The Engineers controlled singles action winning all six matches.
 
- Nicholas Liu opened singles action with a 6-1, 6-3 win in six singles and Li closed the day with a thrilling three-set win, 6-3, 3-6, 10-8 win.  
 
UP NEXT:

- The Engineers return to the courts on Friday, March 17TH when they will host Bates College for a 4 p.m. contest in the J.B. Carr Tennis Bubble.
 
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