NEWBURGH, N.Y. - Winning three three-set matches to close the match, the Mount Saint Mary College men's tennis team defeated Purchase College, 6-3, in a showdown of the two one-loss teams in the Skyline Conference. The Knights, winners of seven of their last eight, improved to 9-5 overall and clinched the second seed in the year-end conference tournament.

With each team at three points and three singles matches still on court, all three matches wound their way to three sets. Mount sophomore Kevin Ryan (West Islip, N.Y.), who lost the opening set 6-2, was the first to come through for the Knights, rallying to win the next two sets, 7-5 and 6-2. Now needing just one more point to clinch the overall match, junior Zach Conlon (Huntington, N.Y.) also came out of a first set hole to win his match at sixth singles. Conlon lost the opener, 7-3 in a tiebreak, but responded to claim the next two sets, 6-4 and 6-1.

Capping off the match for the Knights, freshman Stat Willand (Sparta, N.J.) prevailed in yet another three-setter at third singles. Willand won the first, 7-5, lost the second, 7-5, and earned the win with a tight, 6-4 third set.

Freshman Greg Jacob (Ridgefield, Conn.) provided the other singles point for the Knights, working his way to a 6-2, 6-4 win at second singles. Jacob and Willand were winners in a thriller at first doubles, ultimately winning their match, 7-5, in a tiebreaker.

Ryan and Conlon rolled to an 8-3 win at third doubles to stake the Mount to a 2-1 advantage at the start of singles competition.

Mount Saint Mary closes out the regular season with matches at Sarah Lawrence and Sage. The contest at Sarah Lawrence is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, while Wednesday's match at Sage is set for a 4:00 p.m. start.