Box Score BALTIMORE, Md. – It has been over a year since senior Mike Thomas stepped on a tennis court in maroon and white, but the captain was up to the task in his return from injury on Friday night at Loyola. He delivered the duel-clinching point in a 4-1 Colgate win to send the squad into Sunday's regular-season finale with heads held high. 

"This was the best men's match of the season thus far and we needed it badly," Head Coach Bobby Pennington said. "Six days ago we were at a real low point as a program and there were two directions we could go. Either bag the season and go out with a whimper or shake things up and make some noise."

"This program has a lot of history, pride and culture, and it finally showed," Pennington continued.  "My game ball goes to senior captain Mike Thomas. In my 18 years as a head coach, I don't know if there is a better story and example of perseverance. He rehabbed his shoulder for a full year and just stayed ready to go the whole time. Tonight he played lights out. Bring on Stonehill for our heart awareness duel." 

The duos of Benito Vlassis/Josh Israel and John Fazli/Aidan Chung started the duel on the right foot when they both triumphed on doubles one (6-3) and two (7-6), respectively. 

Israel ended the night undefeated when he handled Loyola in under an hour on court two with a 6-2, 6-2 victory. Aidan Lee continued the Raider run with a 6-1, 6-1 win in the third slot which put Colgate in a clinching scenario. 

The Greyhounds stole a point in first singles, but Thomas did not allow the home side to get any closer, sealing the win with a dominant 6-3, 6-1 victory on court five. 

UP NEXT    
The Raiders round out their regular season with a home match against Stonehill at 2 p.m. where the team will celebrate senior day and their annual heart awareness duel.