Jan. 28, 2012

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Junior Alex Veronis and sophomore Dan Barrus earned singles victories on Saturday but it wasn't enough as the Saint Joseph's men's tennis team kicked off its spring slate with a 5-2 defeat at Navy. Senior Jeff Kessler and freshman Max Montague teamed up to win their first flight doubles match as well.

Veronis fell behind a set to Marcus Rebersak before rallying back for a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 win at number-one singles. Barrus also dropped the first set of his fourth-flight matchup before winning the second and taking the match after Anderson Walls retired. Barrus led the third set, 4-1, at the time.

Kessler fell in the second flight in three sets, as did freshman Pierre Brondeau in his first match in the Crimson and Gray.

The Hawks will try to bounce back on Sunday as they head to UMBC.

Navy 5, Saint Joseph's 2

Doubles
1. Jeff Kessler / Max Montague (SJU) def. Marcus Rebersak / Anderson Walls (USNA), 8-6
2. Peter McDonald / Calvin Mark (USNA) def. Tommy Gates / Dan Barrus (SJU), 8-5
3. Chris Kenney / Blake Daniel (USNA) def. Erik Thunberg / Kristian Broaddus (SJU), 8-4

Singles
1. Alex Veronis (SJU) def. Rebersak (USNA), 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
2. McDonald (USNA) def. Kessler (SJU), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
3. Mark (USNA) def. Gates (SJU), 6-4, 6-2
4. Barrus (SJU) def. Walls (USNA), 1-6, 7-5, 4-1 (ret.)
5. Tyler Burnett (USNA) def. Peter Cognetti (SJU), 7-6 (4), 6-1
6. Daniel (USNA) def. Pierre Brondeau (SJU), 3-6, 6-4, 6-0