LEWISTON, Maine – The Bates men's tennis team ended its recent slide in a big way Saturday as the Bobcats secured a 5-2 conference victory over Trinity College at Merrill Gymnasium. The win moves the garnet and white to 2-5 in NESCAC play (4-11 overall).

Bates set the tone in doubles play with victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. The top pairing of Phillippe Kosyagin and Theo Sardain took down Trinity's Brandon Felcher and John Pope 7-6 (7-4), while the duo of Ben Adey and Evangelo Kapothanasis secured a 6-4 victory at No. 2 over Andrew Nelson and Pierce Rutledge. Though the Bantams (6-6, 1-6 NESCAC) managed to pick up a win at No. 3 doubles, the Bobcats secured the point and entered singles play with a 1-0 advantage.

In singles action, Kosyagin extended Bates' lead with a strong performance at No. 1, defeating Pope 7-5, 6-2. Eric Diop followed with a dominant win at No. 3, besting Axel Edstrom by the scores of 6-0, 6-2. Adey also cruised to victory as the senior sent off Nelson (6-1, 6-4) in the No. 4 slot.

James Sacco, in what proved to be the match of the day, outlasted Trinity's Sam Park in comeback fashion. After dropping the opening set, 6-3, the first-year stormed back with wins of 7-6 (11-9), 7-6 (10-8) to seal the signature triumph.

The Bobcats will play its final home match of the regular season Sunday at 2:00 p.m. vs. No. 15 Wesleyan. Bates will celebrate the collegiate careers of Adey, Eli Criss, and Kapothanasis during a special pre-match ceremony.