Sept. 19, 2004

PRINCETON, NJ - Another solid weekend effort, this time at Princeton University's 36th Annual Farnsworth Invitational at the Lenz Tennis Center and Jadwin Gymnasium, continued a successful fall campaign for the Saint Joseph's men's tennis team. Highlighting an impressive weekend were freshman Michael Portonova, who reached the "C" Flight singles final and junior A.J. Garabedian, who advanced to the "B" Flight singles consolation final and then paird with senior Francisco Velazquez to reach the "A" Flight doubles championship.

Portonova and junior Antonio Aniello were both impressive in the "C" Flight. Portonova upset #1 seed Justin Chow of Columbia in the opening round (6-4, 7-5) and downed Arjun Vaidya from Rutgers (6-4, 6-4) to reach the semifinals. He then surprised Penn's Andy Magnes, the #4 seed, in three sets (5-7, 7-5, 6-4) to reach the final where he fell to #2 seed Jared Drucker from Columbia (6-2, 6-2).

Aniello topped Yale's Andrew Arons (6-1, 4-6, 6-4) and then bounced out the #3 seed Loyola Marymount's Mike Chan (6-4, 6-4) in the quarters. In the semis, Aniello stretched Drucker to three sets, but fell, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

Garabedian, meanwhile teamed with Velazquez to reach the "A" Flight doubles final, knocking out the #1 and four seeds along the way. They bested #4 seed Ryan Murphy and Brandon Wai of Yale (8-4) and advanced to the semifinal by default. They then defeated #1 seeded Loyola's Mike Wojnarowicz and Matt Phillips (8-5) to reach the final. In the final,they faced A-10 rival St. Bonavnetue's Alejandro Nery and Nikhil Murali and were stopped 8-4.

Garabedian also battled back to reach the consolation final. After losing his first round match 6-3, 7-6, the junior defeated SBU's Dan Stankovic (6-4, 4-0 ret.) and #3 seed Penn's Anthony Pu (9-8). In the consolation final he was derailed by #2 seed Craig Rubin from Penn (6-2, 6-2).

Other Hawks in action over the weekend included Jimmy Holland, Van Homer Pangilinan and Chris Spencer.