Boxscore vs. Allegheny
Boxscore vs. Ohio Wesleyan

Gambier, Ohio - In a dramatic come from behind win the Oberlin College men's tennis squad finished in seventh place in the North Coast Athletic Conference Championships.  Oberlin defeated Ohio Wesleyan 5-4 this afternoon claiming the seventh spot after dropping their morning match with Allegheny 5-1.

Leave it to a senior in his final match to pull out all the stops.  Joe Leffler clinched the match against Ohio Weslyan winning at No. 6 singles.  It was no easy feat as all three sets went to extra games, Leffler dominated the first set tiebreaker winning 7-6 (7-1) then dropped a close second set 5-7.  In the third and decisive set Leffler and OWU's Matt Swaim battled to their second tiebreaker.  Swaim held a 5-3 advantage when Leffler rattled off four straight points to seal the win for the Yeomen.

Oberlin got off to a shaky start in doubles action playing a bit flat.  Ohio Wesleyan grabbed two of the three matches; Logan Chun and Ben Turchin pulled a point back with their 8-4 win over Will Thieman and John Russell.

"The team struggled all day with their energy in doubles, we were fortunate that Logan and Ben salvaged a point for us with their win against OWU.  I am proud of the guys for their comeback effort.  What a send off for our seniors and Joe put an exclaimation on his career with his win today," commented head coach Adam Shoemaker.

OWU extended their lead winning at third and fourth singles.  Soren Zeliger fell in straight sets to Ryan Leslie at No. 2 and Ben Turchin also dropped a straight set decision to John Rissell providing the Bishops with a commanding 4-1 lead nearly handing the match to Ohio Wesleyan.

In the second spot Charlie Marks found himself down 5-2 in the first set before initiating the Yeomen comeback.  Marks rallied to win the set 7-5 and then used the momentum to take the second set 6-3 giving Oberlin a little breathing room.

Chun, at No. 1, and Sam Towne, at No. 5, each earned very important wins to even the match at four all and set the stage for Leffler's thriller.  Chun defeated Thieman 6-3, 6-3 and Towne earned a 6-4, 6-2 win over Russell.

Oberlin struggled to find rhythm In their morning match up with Allegheny.  A slow start in doubles play saw the Yeomen fall behind 3-0.

Leffler provided a brief spark winning his match at No. 6 in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1 before Marks dropped a match at No. 2 to Alex Hurtuk 6-2, 6-0.  Allegheny gained the decisive fifth point when Zeliger fell to Charlie Murphy in a first set tiebreaker and 6-3 in the second set.

Shoemaker added, "We essentially held our place finish from a year ago and are looking to add to the current foundation of young players.  The team will miss the leadership of Joe and Sam."

Oberlin (11-14, 3-0 NCAC East) concludes the 2011-12 season with a better overall and NCAC mark from a year ago and is optimistic for the upcoming season with the loss of only two seniors.