MERION STATION, Pa. – The Saint Joseph's men's tennis team turned in a strong first day of competition at the SJU Invitational on Friday at the SJU Tennis Complex.
 
Three Hawks played their way into the singles quarterfinals as Ernesto Ruy and Matthew Dubas won their Round of 16 tilts in straight sets in the Crimson and Gray flights, respectively, after opening round byes.  Also in the Gray flight, Matthew Cizmarik rallied twice from down a set to earn a pair of wins via supertiebreaker and make his way to the quarters.
 
In the doubles draw, John Butler and Eli Gan-Dy rolled to a 6-1 opening round win while Cizmarik and Hector Fullone joined them in the Round of 16 with a 6-3 victory of their own.
 
Play continues at the SJU Tennis Complex on Saturday.
 
Saint Joseph's Results
 
Singles Flight Crimson
 
Opening Round
Othman Bezzaz (SJU) def. Pranav Nemani (Temple), 6-3, 6-3
Otakar Ungerman (Bryant) def. Justus Agbo (SJU), 6-4, 6-4
Soma Fukuhara (NJIT) def. Santiago Valle (SJU), 6-4, 6-4
 
Round of 16
Alex De Sousa (Drexel) def. Bezzaz (SJU), 7-6, 5-0, retired
Ernesto Ruy (SJU) def. Alberto Blumenschein (TEM), 6-1, 6-4
 
Singles Flight Gray
 
Opening Round
Matthew Cizmarik (SJU) def. Manveer Boparai (BRY), 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 (STB)
 
Round of 16
Cizmarik (SJU) def. Cameron Kruep (Villanova), 4-6, 6-4, 10-5 (STB)
Matthew Dubas (SJU) def. Benedict Horn-Bourque (Lehigh), 6-1, 6-4
 
Singles Flight Black
 
Opening Round
John Butler (SJU) def. Josh Vestal (VU), 6-7 (5), 6-0, 10-3 (STB)
Eli Gan-Dy (SJU) def. Enzo Puppi (Chestnut Hill), 7-5, 7-6 (7)
Hector Fullone (SJU) def. Luke Donovan (LEH), 7-5, 6-4
 
Round of 16
Nate Raney (LEH) def. Butler, 6-3, 6-1
Antonio Franquis (DREX) def. Gan-Dy (SJU), 6-0, 6-2
Marcus Macaulay (BRY) def. Fullone (SJU), 3-6, 6-2, 11-9 (STB)
 
Doubles Flight Gray
 
Opening Round
Butler / Gan-Dy (SJU) def. Alejandro Rotundo / Jacob Williams (Harford CC), 6-1
Cizmarik / Fullone (SJU) def. Jack Gelman / Aaron Kwock (Franklin & Marshall), 6-3