GREENSBURG, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College men's tennis team bested Bethany College by a 5-0 score Friday afternoon in the Presidents' Athletic Conference Semifinals, which were hosted at the Greensburg Racquet Club. 
 
W&J claimed wins in all three doubles matches before winning a pair of singles contests to secure the five necessary team points for victory. At the first doubles position, Nate Wang (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) and Sam Bellini (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) defeated the Bethany team of Chris Ray/Rhone Thrash by a narrow 8-7 (8-6) score.

Stephen Mehlbaum (Sellersville, Pa /Pennridge) and Max Perilstein (Glenside, Pa./Cheltenham Township) came out on the right side of an 8-4 decision at second doubles, downing the Bison duo of Geoffrey Foster and Raj Vijayarajah. At third doubles, Josh Hnat (Dubois, Pa./Dubois) and Cole Hartman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) escaped with an 8-7 (7-1) victory. 

In singles play, Wang was victorious in straight sets (6-2, 6-2) at the top spot while Mehlbaum won by a 6-0, 6-4 score at fourth singles. 

W&J (14-3 overall), in search of its first PAC title since 1969, will face either second-seeded Grove City, who earned a 5-4 victory over Saint Vincent on Friday. Bethany (11-6 overall) drops into the third place match to face the third-seeded Bearcats on Saturday. 

Saturday's third-place and championship matches will be hosted by W&J at the Janet Swanson Tennis Center, which has served as the home site for its tennis programs since 2015. This weekend's matches will utilize the nine-point team scoring format with matches played to decision (first team to five flight wins). 

Saturday's third-place match is tentatively scheduled for 11 a.m. with the championship match to follow at 2 p.m. 

This year's team champion will secure the PAC's automatic qualifying bid (Pool A) to the NCAA Division III Championships. Team selections for the Division III Championships are scheduled to be announced Monday, May 6 with the first, second and third rounds slated for Thursday-Sunday, May 9-12.

Singles competition
1. Nate Wang (WJC) def. Chris Ray (BET) 6-2, 6-2
2. Sam Bellini (WJC) vs. Rhone Thrash (BET) 6-4, 1-1, unfinished
3. Stephen Mehlbaum (WJC) def. Raj Vijayarajah (BET) 6-0, 6-4
4. Cole Hartman (WJC) vs. Drake Berlin (BET) 7-5, 1-2, unfinished
5. Max Perilstein (WJC) vs. Geoffrey Foster (BET) 6-3, 3-2, unfinished
6. Josh Hnat (WJC) vs. Adam Franco (BET) 6-2, 4-1, unfinished
 
Doubles competition
1. Nate Wang/Sam Bellini (WJC) def. Chris Ray/Rhone Thrash (BET) 8-7 (8-6)
2. Stephen Mehlbaum/Max Perilstein (WJC) def. Geoffrey Foster/Raj Vijayarajah (BET) 8-4
3. Josh Hnat/Cole Hartman (WJC) def. Drake Berlin/Adam Franco (BET) 8-7 (7-1)
 
Match Notes
Bethany 11-6
Wash. and Jeff. 14-3