MACON, Ga. – The UNCG men’s tennis team fell short in its conference opener at Mercer, 4-3, Wednesday at the LeRoy Peddy Tennis Center.

The Spartans fall to 4-5, 0-1 in the SoCon and Mercer improves to 7-8 with a 1-0 mark in conference action.

In doubles, Mercer took a 1-0 lead after winning two of three doubles matches. Freshman Connor Thompson and senior Randy Phillips defeated Arnav Mohanty and Arsav Mohanty, 8-1 at No. 1 doubles.

At No. 3 doubles, Mercer’s duo of Austin Emmet and Oliver Snaider took down redshirt sophomore William Albright and sophomore Warren Bryan, 8-5.

In the final doubles match, the Bears clinched the doubles point as Sam Philp and Anderson Scarpa defeated freshman James Gray and Logan Walker, 8-5, at No. 3 doubles.

In singles, Thompson tied the match at 1-1 after a straight sets win against Scarpa, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4 singles. Mercer took a 2-1 lead after Manuel de Luis defeated junior Gaston Murray, 6-4, 6-1 at No. 5 singles.

The Bears went ahead 3-1 after Philp won in the third set against junior Daniel Mack, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5.

Senior Cameron Smith cut the lead to 3-2 after a close match against Snaider, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), 5-0 retired at No. 3 singles.  Smith was able to win the second set tiebreaker 7-5 and was ahead 5-0 before his opponent retired.

At No. 1 singles, Phillips tied the match at 3-3 with a third set win against Arnav Mohanty, 6-7 (6-8), 6-2, 6-3.

In the deciding match, Albright lost in the third set to Arsav Mohanty, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-3 at No. 6 singles.