MERION STATION, Pa. – The Saint Joseph's men's tennis team notched its third consecutive victory with a 4-2 triumph over George Mason at the SJU Tennis Complex on Sunday. The Hawks won their second conference tilt in as many days to get back over .500 for the season.
“This was the toughest match, physically, that we have every played and I am delighted with the result over another conference rival,” head coach Ian Crookenden said.
Saint Joseph's (8-7 overall, 2-4 Atlantic 10) opened up an early 3-0 singles lead to take command of the match. Sophomore Tim Stierle started things off with a 6-2, 6-2 first-flight win before seniors Tristan Boustany and Kyle Chalmers took wins in the second and fifth flights to put the Hawks in control. Boustany cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 win in the fifth, while Chalmers held on for a 7-6 (7), 6-3 victory in the second.
George Mason (9-8 overall, 2-4 Atlantic 10) got back into the match with wins in the third and fourth flights, but junior Peter Dewitt sealed the win with a 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-5 win in the sixth flight to give the Hawks their third win in a row.
“Today was a real dogfight and it was survival of the fittest, as in the final singles match Peter closed out a terrific three-hour-15-minute match to give us the victory,” Crookenden said.
With the match result settled, no doubles play was contested.
“Both coaches agreed that any further play for the doubles point would have been anti-climactic after the intensity of the singles competition,” Crookenden said.
The Hawks will head across town on Wednesday for a match at Drexel before hosting matches at the SJU Tennis Complex on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Saint Joseph's 4, George Mason 2
Singles
1. Tim Stierle (SJU) def. James Lange (GMU), 6-2, 6-2
2. Kyle Chalmers (SJU) def. Jacob Nielsen (GMU), 7-6 (7), 6-3
3. Pally Ray (GMU) def. Andre Fick (SJU), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
4. Edward Ayers (GMU) def. Beekman Schaeffer (SJU), 7-5, 6-3
5. Tristan Boustany (SJU) def. Daniel Gutierrez (GMU), 6-1, 6-3
6. Peter Dewitt (SJU) def. Andrew Curtis (GMU), 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-5
Order of Finish: 1, 5, 2, 4, 3, 6
Game Scores
Saint Joseph's 76, George Mason 61
