Binghamton (16-8) dropped a 4-0 decision to eighth-seeded Mississippi in the NCAA first round Saturday. The national tournament appearance was Binghamton's second-straight as America East champions.
The top doubles tandem of freshman Dan Hanegby and senior Steve Spencer jumped out to a 3-0 lead and were on serve at 5-6 before Mississippi stepped up to win 8-5. The hosts scored an 8-1 win at third doubles to capture the team point. At second doubles, however, sophomore Richemn Mourad and junior Juan Garcia were cruising with a 5-2 lead when their match was suspended.
In singles, Mourad and sophomore Brian O'Connor were in tight matches at number two and three singles, respectively. Mourad won his opening set and trailed 3-2 in the second when Ole Miss clinched the match. O'Connor served for the first set at 5-4 before his opponent saved a set point and captured the opening set, 7-5.
At number one singles, Hanegby ran into a buzzsaw with junior All-American Catalin Gard, losing 6-1, 6-1. Gard is the SEC Player of the Year, and is ranked No. 4 in the country. Hanegby concluded his stellar first collegiate season with a 31-7 overall record.
DOUBLES
1. Ciorascu/Lindholm (M) def. Hanegby/Spencer (B), 8-5
2. Mourad/Garcia (B) led Di Cesare/Claesson (M), 5-2, DNF
3. Gard/Alayli (M) def. O'Connor/Gerard (B), 8-1
SINGLES
1. Catalin Gard (M) def. Dan Hanegby (B), 6-1, 6-1
2. Richemn Mourad (B) led Paul Ciorascu (M), 7-5, 2-3, DNF
3. Claes Lindholm (M) led Brian O'Connor (B), 7-5, DNF
4. Juan Pablo Di Cesare (M) def. Steve Spencer (B), 6-1, 6-1
5. Fredrik Aarum (M) led Edwin Gerard (B), 6-2, 4-0, DNF
6. Eric Claesson (M) def. Juan Garcia (B), 6-0, 6-1