April 7, 2013

MERION STATION, Pa. - Max Montague and Jeff Kessler earned victories in fifth and sixth singles, respectively, but the Saint Joseph's men's tennis team ultimately fell to NJIT, 5-2, at the SJU Tennis Complex on Sunday afternoon.

NJIT improved to 16-3 with the win, while the Hawks fell to 7-9.

Montague topped Petr Rousar in the fifth flight, 6-4, 6-4, while Kessler was a straight sets winner in the sixth, taking down Fraser Croad by a 7-5, 6-2 score.

The Highlanders took the doubles point by sweeping all three flights in close matches. Montague and Jose Sierra battled in the first flight, but were on the wrong end of a 9-8 (3) result. Kessler and Dan Barrus teamed up in the second flight, but fell by an 8-6 score. In the third flight, Pierre Brondeau and Alex Veronis fell to their opponents, 8-4.

The Hawks will look to bounce back on Monday when they host Lafayette. The match is set to begin at 2:00 p.m.

NJIT 5, Saint Joseph's 2

Doubles
1. Erik Artursson / Petr Rousar (NJIT) def. Max Montague / Jose Sierra (SJU), 9-8 (3)
2. Holger Norregaard / Markus Schultz (NJIT) def. Dan Barrus / Jeff Kessler (SJU), 8-6
3. Andres Alban / Jack Felich (NJIT) def. Pierre Brondeau / Alex Veronis (SJU), 8-4

Singles
1. Schultz (NJIT) def. Sierra (SJU), 6-1, 6-2
2. Norregaard (NJIT) def. Veronis (SJU), 6-0, 6-4
3. Alban (NJIT) def. Brondeau (SJU), 7-5, 2-6, 11-9 (supertiebreaker)
4. Artursson (NJIT) def. Tommy Gates (SJU), 6-3, 6-3
5. Montague (SJU) def. Rousar (NJIT), 6-4, 6-4
6. Kessler (SJU) def. Fraser Croad (NJIT), 7-5, 6-2

Game Scores
Singles: NJIT 61, Saint Joseph's 49
Doubles: NJIT 25, Saint Joseph's 18
Total: NJIT 86, Saint Joseph's 67