April 21, 2002

Flushing Meadows, NY---The Marist College men's tennis team won their fourth consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) title, with a 7-0 sweep of Niagara University in the championship match of the 2002 MAAC Championship held at the USTA National Tennis Center. With the victory, the Red Foxes earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Other accolades for the Red Foxes this evening were awarded to Patrick Hofer (Falkenweg, Austria) and head coach Tim Smith. Hofer won the Dr. Joseph Grassi Award for most outstanding male player for the second consecutive year, while Smith received Men's Coach of the Year honors.

The Red Foxes nabbed the doubles point with victories at number one and two doubles. The number one doubles team of Hofer and Martin Aldorsson (Kungsbacka, SWE) defeated Jonathan Bozanich and Mike Kelly, 8-1. At number two doubles Michael Sowter (Perth, Australia) and David Slater (St. Alban's, UK) won easily over Tom Rees and John Abella, 8-1.

In singles action, Hofer topped Bozanich at number one singles, 6-4, 6-3. At number two singles Sowter defeated Kelly, winning the first set 6-2 and the second set by default. At number three singles Slater won over Jason Pope, 6-1, 6-1. At number four singles Aldorsson beat Kristoffer Hrisovulos, 6-2, 6-1. At number five singles Viktor Sapezhnikov (Brooklyn, NY) won against Rees, 6-2, 6-2. At number six singles Patrick Dahnert (Scottsdale, AZ) won easily against Abella, 6-0, 6-1.

In addition, four Red Foxes were named to the 2002 MAAC Men's Tennis All-Academic Team. Dahnert, Hofer, Sapezhnikov, and Sowter were among the 25 athletes selected to the team. In order to eligible, a student athlete must be a significant starter or reserve, and hold a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.20 on a 4.0 scale.

The Red Foxes have currently compiled a 19-7 overall record, and have also remained unbeaten in conference matches on the year.