BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Saint Joseph's men's tennis team claimed its first dual match victory of the season on Saturday, topping Illinois State, 4-3, at the Evergreen Racquet Club.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Hawks took the lead via the doubles point, getting started on the right foot with wins in the top two flights.
Othman Bezzaz and
Ernesto Ruy were 6-4 winners in the first while
Justus Agbo and
Santiago Valle won by the same score in the second.
• The Redbirds claimed the top two singles flights, but the Hawks would win three of the final four to secure the match.
Matthew Dubas won in the fifth in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0, while Bezzaz rallied from a set down to win 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2 in the third and Valle took a 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 result in the fourth.
HAWK TALK
"A great team win today for this young Hawk team," head coach
Jeff Puhan said. "It was a real battle, four and a half hours to the bitter end. We secured the doubles point, and
Matthew Dubas ran through his opponent; we were then in a fight. Santiago had a gritty comeback, winning 7-5 in the third. Last on the court with the score 3-3,
Othman Bezzaz clinched it for the Hawks, winning 6-2 in the third.
We rebounded well after a battle last night. We still have a lot to learn and improve, but a step in the right direction. Now our focus is on a very good Notre Dame team."
UP NEXT
The Hawks will visit Notre Dame on Sunday night.
RESULTS
Saint Joseph's 4, Illinois State 3
Doubles
1.
Othman Bezzaz /
Ernesto Ruy (Saint Joseph's) def. Caden Scarlett / Tomas Valencia (Illinois State), 6-4
2.
Justus Agbo /
Santiago Valle (SJU) def. Christian Capacci / Tin Ostro (ISU), 6-4
3. Adrian Dibildox / Finn Logue (ISU) def.
Matthew Cizmarik /
Matthew Dubas (SJU), 6-3
Singles
1. Valencia (ISU) def. Agbo (SJU), 6-3, 6-3
2. Dibildox (ISU) def. Ruy (SJU), 7-6 (5), 6-7 (2), 6-3
3. Bezzaz (SJU) def. Ostro (ISU), 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2
4. Valle (SJU) def. Jett Leong (ISU), 6-1, 3-6, 7-5
5. Dubas (SJU) def. Scarlett (ISU), 6-4, 6-0
6. Logue (ISU) def. Cizmarik (SJU), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
