April 25, 2003

Flushing Meadow, NY - The Marist College men's tennis team took its first step towards a fifth consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) title, defeating #8 Canisius, 7-0, this evening in the quarterfinals at the United States Tennis Center.

The Red Foxes swept the three doubles matches, led by the number one doubles victory from Pat Hofer and Martin Aldorsson, 8-0. Chris Hagen and Mark Santucci combined for an 8-2 win in the number two doubles, while the number three doubles team of David Slater and Viktor Sapezhnikov won by the same margin.

Marist was perfect in the singles matches as well, winning all six contests. Hofer captured the first singles, 7-5, 6-2, while Hagen won at number two singles, 6-0, 6-1 over Bob Fahey. Mark Santucci defeated Philip Eicher 6-0, 6-4 in third singles, and Mike Nassif defeated Greg Kingston, 6-0, 6-1 in fourth singles. Viktor Sapezhnikov won at fifth singles, 6-1, 6-4 and Alain Boletta defeated Kyle Hejmowski, 6-0, 6-0 in the sixth singles.

Marist is now a school record best 20-2, and advances to play the number four-seed, Loyola, in the semifinal tomorrow, scheduled for 11:00 am. The matches will be played at the USTA, weather permitting, and at Saint Peter's College if rain persists.