March 17, 2011

MERION STATION, Pa. - The Saint Joseph's men's tennis team opened the home portion of its spring outdoor slate with a resounding 7-0 victory over crosstown rival La Salle. Alex Veronis was dominant in the top singles flight, defeating his opponent at love, while SJU won five out of six singles matches in straight sets.

Veronis was a 6-0, 6-0 winner over Fernando Tovia in the top flight. Jeff Kessler won his second flight match, 6-0, 6-2, while doubles partner Peter Cognetti was a 6-2, 6-0 winner in the fourth flight. Kristian Broaddus also dispatched his opponent fairly quickly, taking down Mikel Kosich 6-1, 6-1 in the sixth flight.

In doubles play, SJU dropped just four games en route to taking all three matches. Veronis and partner Dan Barrus were 8-0 winners in the second flight while the partnerships of Cognetti / Kessler and Broaddus / Tommy Gates were both 8-2 winners in the first and third flights, respectively.

The Hawks are back in action on Saturday as the Fairfield Stags men's and women's teams visit the SJU Tennis Complex. Play begins at noon.

Saint Joseph's 7, La Salle 0

Doubles
1. Peter Cognetti / Jeff Kessler (SJU) def. Chas Berenato / Fernando Tovia (LAS), 8-2
2. Alex Veronis / Dan Barrus (SJU) def. Trevor Donovan / Mikel Kosich (LAS), 8-0
3. Tommy Gates / Kristian Broaddus (SJU) def. Hunter Selman / Joseph LaBate (LAS), 8-2

Singles
1. Veronis (SJU) def. Tovia (LAS), 6-0, 6-0
2. Kessler (SJU) def. Selman (LAS), 6-0, 6-2
3. Gates (SJU) def. Berenato (LAS), 6-4, 6-2
4. Cognetti (SJU) def. Donovan (LAS), 6-2, 6-0
5. Barrus (SJU) def. LaBate (LAS), 6-7 (5), 6-4, 10-2
6. Broaddus (SJU) def. Kosich (LAS), 6-1, 6-1