MERION STATION, Pa. – Andre Fick secured a three-set singles victory to clinch the match as the Saint Joseph's tennis team took a 4-3 result against Villanova at the SJU Tennis Complex on Thursday afternoon.
Fick battled back from a set down to earn a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 win over Thomas Dodson in the fourth singles flight to finish off the afternoon's play and give the Hawks the team victory.
“It was a great battle that went our way after a four-hour struggle,” head coach Ian Crookenden said.
Saint Joseph's (5-9) took the early lead with a pair of doubles wins. Fick and Nick Ringle notched a 6-4 win in the second flight before Beekman Schaeffer and Tim Stierle locked up the point with a 7-6 (5) win in the first.
The teams then alternated singles points, with Stierle claiming a 7-5, 6-3, win in the first and Peter Dewitt gutting out a 6-0, 6-7 (4), 7-5 triumph in the third. The Wildcats earned a win in the sixth flight, however, to tie the affair before Fick's fourth-flight win gave the Hawks the overall result.
“Winning the doubles point was huge, and Andre winning with the match on the line was a magnificent performance under pressure,” Crookenden said. “I am very proud of the team effort.”
The Hawks will break for the Easter holiday before returning to host Drexel on Wednesday, April 4.
Saint Joseph's 4, Villanova 3
Doubles
1. Beekman Schaeffer / Tim Stierle (SJU) def. Will Elmore / Stefan Suarez (VU), 7-6 (5)
2. Andre Fick / Nick Ringle (SJU) def. Thomas Dodson / Tyler Roth (VU), 6-4
3. Mike Czlonka / Tommy Mulflur (VU) def. Peter Dewitt / Dan Tan (SJU), 7-6 (4)
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
Singles
1. Stierle (SJU) def. Suarez (VU), 7-5, 6-3
2. Roth (VU) def. Schaeffer (SJU), 6-1, 7-6 (4)
3. Dewitt (SJU) def. Dylan Flanagan (VU), 6-0, 6-7 (4), 7-5
4. Fick (SJU) def. Dodson (VU), 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4
5. Alastair Hurry (VU) def. Tan (SJU), 6-3, 6-4
6. Matt Phelps (VU) def. Luis Janko (SJU), 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 5, 3, 6, 4
Game Scores
Singles: Villanova 78, Saint Joseph's 76
Doubles: Saint Joseph's 19, Villanova 17
Total: Saint Joseph's 95, Villanova 95
