GROVE CITY, Pa. -- A first singles victory by Nate Wang (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) helped the Washington & Jefferson College men's tennis team secure a 5-4 road victory over Grove City College in a matchup of the top two teams in the Presidents' Athletic Conference standings. 

With the narrow victory, the Presidents finish the regular season with a perfect 7-0 conference record. W&J, winners of seven straight, improves its overall record to 12-2. The loss drops Grove City to 6-1 in the league and 9-8 overall. 

W&J opened the match with victories in two of the three doubles positions. Wang and Sam Bellini (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) registered an 8-6 decision at the first doubles spot while Stephen Mehlbaum (Sellersville, Pa./Pennridge) and Max Perilstein (Glenside, Pa./Cheltenham Township) pulled out an 8-7 victory in second doubles. 

The Presidents and Wolverines split the six singles matchups to help W&J pull out the 5-4 victory. Perilstein won 6-3, 6-3 in straight sets at the fourth spot for the easiest W&J victory in singles play.

Both Bellini and Wang earned victories in third set tiebreakers. Bellini rallied back to win by a score of 5-7, 6-2 and 1-0 (10-3) at second spot. The match was decided when Wang also overcame an early deficit. After dropping the first set by a 6-3 score, Wang clinched the match for W&J by claiming the second set 7-5 and the tiebreaker by a 10-5 margin. 

The Presidents wrap up the regular season with a non-conference matchup against Allegheny College on Thursday, April 18. Start time is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Janet Swanson Tennis Center. 
 
Singles Competition 
1. Nate Wang (WJC) def. Karsten Lagerquist (GRO) 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-5)
2. Sam Bellini (WJC) def. Edward Doyle (GRO) 5-7, 6-2, 1-0 (10-3)
3. Paul Hodge (GRO) def. Stephen Mehlbaum (WJC) 6-0, 6-0
4. Max Perilstein (WJC) def. Miguel Esteban (GRO) 6-3, 6-3
5. Andrew Rodenbeck (GRO) def. Josh Hnat (WJC) 6-2, 6-3
6. Alex Kidd (GRO) def. Ruchir Gupta (WJC) 6-3, 6-4
 
Doubles Competition 
1. Nate Wang/Sam Bellini (WJC) def. Karsten Lagerquist/Paul Hodge (GRO) 8-6
2. Stephen Mehlbaum/Max Perilstein (WJC) def. Andrew Rodenbeck/Miguel Esteban (GRO) 8-7
3. Graham Shuman/Edward Doyle (GRO) def. Josh Hnat/Ruchir Gupta (WJC) 8-5
 
Match Notes:
Wash. and Jeff. 12-2, 7-0 PAC
Grove City 9-8, 6-1 PAC