March 12, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Saint Joseph's men's tennis team has won two matches and lost one so far this week during its annual Spring Break trip to Orlando. The Hawks defeated Aquinas and Monmouth while falling to Bryant.

On Tuesday, SJU eked out a 4-3 victory of Aquinas College. The Hawks won the crucial doubles point by sweeping all three contests, including an 8-0 shutout posted at second doubles by freshmen Peter Cognetti and Jeff Kessler. The rookies also did their part in singles play, winning at the sixth and fourth flights, respectively. The other SJU winner was top-flight stalwart Pat Adams, who won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.

Wednesday's match pitted the Hawks against Monmouth University, and SJU came away a 5-2 winner. Once again the Crimson and Gray earned the doubles point, this time winning the first two matches to jump ahead 1-0. Adams and Cognetti won their second singles matches in as many days, earning straight sets victories at first and sixth singles. Other Hawk winners included Phil Bayliss at #2 and Michael Stauble at #3.

On Thursday afternoon the Saint Joseph's winning streak came to an end as the Hawks were upended by Bryant, 4-3. For the third straight match, SJU took the doubles point to take the early 1-0 lead, but this time they could only manage a pair of singles wins. Adams once again led the way at the top, dispatching his opponent 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 in the first flight. Kessler earned SJU's other point in the match.

SJU will conclude its trip with a Thursday evening match against Creighton and a Friday morning match against South Dakota State.

Saint Joseph's Results

Saint Joseph's 4, Aquinas College 3

Doubles
1. Phil Bayliss / Michael Stauble (SJU) def J. O'Neill/D. Tran (AC): 8-3
2. Peter Cognetti / Jeff Kessler (SJU) def J. Telfer/T. Wolf (AC): 8-0
3. Pat Adams / Matt Prusack (SJU) def M. Sendor/D. Doerrfeld (AC): 8-6

Singles
1. Adams (SJU) def O'Neill (AC): 6-1, 6-2
2. Tran (AC) def Bayliss (SJU); 7-5, 6-4
3. Telfer (AC) def Stauble (SJU): 7-5, 6-3
4. Kessler (SJU) def Ludwig (AC): 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
5. Wolf (AC) def Prusack (SJU): 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (8)
6. Cognetti (SJU) def Doerrfeld (AC): 2-6, 6-2, 6-1

Saint Joseph's 5, Monmouth 2

Doubles
1. Bayliss/Stauble (SJU) def Evenden/Terpilowski(MU): 8-2
2. Kessler Cognetti (SJU) def Forrest/Heads (MU): 8-3
3. Gupta/Sherwood (MU) def Adams/Prusack (SJU): 8-6

Singles
1. Adams (SJU) def Evenden (MU): 6-3, 6-3
2. Bayliss (SJU) def Forrest (MU): 6-4, 7-5
3. Stauble (SJU) def Gupta (MU): 6-4, 6-0
4. Heads (MU) def Kessler (SJU): 6-3, 6-3
5. Sherwood (MU) def Prusack (SJU): 6-1, 6-2
6. Cognetti (SJU) def McLane (MU): 6-1, 6-0

Bryant 4, Saint Joseph's 3

Doubles
1. Stauble/Bayliss (SJU) def C. Balestuji/N. Hill (BU): 9-7
2. Cognetti/Kessler (SJU) def K. Gardiner/T. Nowak (BU): 8-6
3. J. Rodriguez/Z. Laliwala (BU) def Adams/Prusack (SJU): 9-8 (4)

Singles
1. Adams (SJU) def Balestuji (BU): 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
2. Rodriguez (BU) def Bayliss (SJU): 6-1, 1-6, 6-3
3. Gardiner (BU) def Stauble (SJU): 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5)
4. Kessler (SJU) def Nowak (BU): 6-1, 6-1
5. Hill (BU) def Prusack (SJU): 6-2, 6-3
6. Laliwala (BU) def Kevin Aquino (SJU): 6-7 (8), 6-2, 4-0 (retired)