PURCHASE, N.Y. – The fourth-seeded Purchase College men's tennis team saw its season come to an end on Tuesday following a 5-4 loss to the No. 5 U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in the first round of Skyline Championships.

The Mariners will advance to the Skyline Conference Semifinal at No. 1 Manhattanville College on Thursday.

Purchase led 2-1 after doubles but USMMA clawed back in singles play for the win.

At No. 1 doubles, Julian Szuper (5th/New York, NY) and Eli Palagatshev (FR/Yonkers, NY) defeated RJ Novak and Connor McQuade by a score of 8-4, to put PC out in front. The No. 2 pairing of Ben Joory (SR/Port Washington, NY) and Yuta Kawamura (FR/Greenwich, CT) followed with an 8-2 victory over Tom Chairs and Demme Kraut. 

Merchant Marine picked up its first win of the day at No. 3 doubles. Gabby Eitkis and Brandon Bombay bested Purchase's Oliver Culliton (FR/Gloversville, NY) and Steve Mains (SO/Mount Kisco, NY), 8-2. 

The Panthers fired back with the opening win in singles play. Szuper downed Chairs, 6-2, 6-1, at the top spot to stretch Purchase's lead to 3-1. 

USMMA made it 3-2 after taking the fourth singles match by a score of 6-2, 7-6 (7-0), but Purchase answered with a Palagatshev victory at the second position, 6-3, 6-4, to lead 4-2. 

Despite valiant efforts at third, fifth and sixth singles, Purchase was unable to secure another point  the rest of the way. USMMA rallied with wins across all three matchups en route to a dramatic come-from-behind 5-4 victory.

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