MEDIA, Pa. – The Saint Joseph's men's tennis team found itself in another tight battle on Saturday afternoon, but ultimately fell short in a 4-3 defeat to Monmouth at the Springton Indoor Tennis Club.
Seniors Renier Moolman and Andres Urrea were winners in the first doubles flight, taking their match by a 6-4 score, but the visitors came away with wins in both the second and third flights to take the doubles point and get the early advantage.
Monmouth secured the match victory with wins in each of the top singles flights. SJU earned victories in each of the final three flights, however, to set the final score. Freshman Andre Fick was a 6-3, 7-6 (4) winner in the fourth flight against Christian Vieira, senior Kevin Gates won his fifth-flight tilt in a tiebreaker, 7-5, 2-6, 10-8, over Alberto Giuffrida, and sophomore Peter Dewitt cruised past Richard Chen, 6-0, 6-3, in the sixth.
"A very good match, decided by the doubles," head coach Ian Crookenden said. "Although Monmouth had clinched the match, a fine contest at number-five singles saw Kevin pull out a win in the superbreaker. Other solid singles performances by Andre and Peter provided some quality tennis."
Saint Joseph's plays its third match in as many days on Sunday as the Hawks head to Delaware. Play is set to begin at 3:00 p.m.
Monmouth 4, Saint Joseph's 3
Doubles
1. Renier Moolman / Andres Urrea (SJU) def. Nicola Pipoli / Vidit Vaghela (MON), 6-4
2. Richard Chen / Ale Gomez Estrada (MON) def. Kyle Chalmers / Peter Dewitt (SJU), 6-3
3. Alberto Giuffrida / Christian Vieira (MON) def. Tristan Boustany / Kevin Gates (SJU), 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles
1. Vaghela (MON) def. Moolman (SJU), 7-5, 6-2
2. Gomez Estrada (MON) def. Urrea (SJU), 6-2, 6-3
3. Pipoli (MON) def. Boustany (SJU), 6-3, 6-1
4. Andre Fick (SJU) def. Vieira (MON), 6-3, 7-6 (4)
5. Gates (SJU) def. Giuffrua (MON), 7-5, 2-6, (10-8)
6. Dewitt (SJU) def. Chen (MON), 6-0, 6-3
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1, 6, 4, 5
Game Scores
Singles: Monmouth 60, Saint Joseph's 51
Doubles: Monmouth 16, Saint Joseph's 11
Total: Monmouth 76, Saint Joseph's 62
