Men’s Tennis Gets Past Montclair State

NEW PALTZ — Kingston High graduate Justin Jourden and Ed Paulinski contributed two wins apiece to help SUNY New Paltz get past Montclair State, 6-3, in men’s tennis on Saturday afternoon at New Paltz’s Air Structure.

In maybe the match of the year, Paulinski and partner Tiberiu Taran rallied from a 6-1 deficit to defeat Eric Mitchel and Al Piccoli, 13-11, in first doubles. Taran later dropped his second marathon match of the day, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4, to Piccoli at second singles, while Paulinski bested Mitchel (7-6, 6-0) at third singles.

In the day’s other hotly contested match, Rondout Valley graduate Eric Gullickson and partner Andrew Lehr lost to the team of Pete Ohanyan and Gus Rodriguez, 9-7, at third doubles.

The match, originally slated to be contested in New Jersey, was moved indoors at New Paltz due to inclement weather.

New Paltz returns to action at 4 p.m. on Tuesday with a home match against local rival Mount St. Mary.

COLLEGIATE MEN’S TENNIS

New Paltz 6, Montclair State 3

Singles: 1. Justin Jourden (NP) def. Mitsuharu Okada (MS), 6-2, 6-3. 2. Al Piccoli (MS) def. Tiberiu Taran (NP), 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. 3. Ed Paulinski (NP) def. Eric Mitchel (MS), 7-6, 6-0. 4. Jay Lowenstein (MS) def. Chris Knoblauch (NP), 6-2, 6-3. 5. Josh Elohim (NP) def. Gus Rodriguez (MS), 6-1, 8-6. 6. David Bridglall (NP) def. Pete Ohanyan (MS), 6-3, 6-4.

Doubles: 1. Ed Paulinski/Tiberiu Taran (NP) def. Eric Mitchel/Al Piccoli (MS), 13-11. 2. Justin Jourden/Chris Knoblauch (NP) def. Jay Lowenstein/Mitsuharu Okada (MS), 8-1. 3. Pete Ohanyan/Gus Rodriguez (MS) def. Eric Gullickson/Andrew Lehr (NP), 9-7.

Team Records: New Paltz 5-4.