GRANTHAM, Pa. - The Stevenson men's tennis team dropped its first conference match of the season in a hard-fought 5-4 defeat to host Messiah. The loss also halts the Mustangs' six-match winning streak.

Stevenson won two of the three doubles matches to start off the day. Sophomore Andre Sturniolo and junior Douglas Vaughan picked up their fourth consecutive win in No. 2 doubles, taking down their opponents by an 8-2 margin. Junior Andrew Ryan and freshman Richie Abruscato improved their record in No. 3 doubles to 4-1 after winning their match, 8-6.

The lone doubles defeat came in No. 1 where senior Wornden Ly and sophomore Ray McDermott dropped a close match, 9-7. The loss drops their doubles record to 12-7 on the year.

The Mustangs led the match 4-3 with two matches yet to be completed, but they would eventually drop both in third-set tiebreakers. McDermott took the first set of his No. 1 singles match, but would eventually fall, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7). Junior Peter Appiah dropped a heartbreaking third set after taking a one-set lead, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4). 

Sturniolo won his eighth match in a row in No. 2 singles by a 6-3, 6-3 score, improving his season record to 8-1. Ryan won his eighth match in a row in a 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 triumph. 

The Mustangs (7-5, 2-1 MAC) will look to get back in the win column in a road match against conference opponent Lycoming on Saturday, April 14 at 1:00 pm.