April 17, 2009

Box Score

QUEENS, N.Y. - The Marist men's tennis team advanced to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) semifinals on Friday as the team shutout Rider, 7-0 for the second time this year. Landon Greene (Palos Verde, Calif.), Antonio Oliver (Madrid, Spain) and Michael Land (Kingwood, Texas) each held their counterparts from Rider to a set at love in each of their singles matches.

The Red Foxes swept the doubles point to open the match. Junior Christian Coley (Glastonbury, Conn.) and sophomore Rhys Hobbs (Sydney, Australia) defeated Casey Jedlinski and Chris Esposito, 8-4. At second doubles, Himmelsbach and junior Nicolas Pisecky (Lausanne, Switzerland) and Greene shutout Rob Olsen and Aaron Goldenthal, 8-0.

In the singles, Marcus von Nordheim (Munich, Germany) moved up to the number one spot in the quarterfinal matchup and defeated Jedlinski in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. von Nordheim has won three consecutive matches and is a combined 4-0 in first through third singles this season.

Greene was a double winner on Friday as he took a two-set decision from Haight at second singles, 6-4, 6-0. Greene is 24-6 this season and 13-2 in dual matches this year.

At third singles, Himmelsbach won his first career third singles match, 6-2, 6-0 over Ashed. He has won seven straight dual matches and is now 6-0 against conference opponents.

Oliver, Hobbs and Land won at fourth, fifth and sixth singles respectively to help the Red Foxes gain their eighth shutout of the season. In the Red Foxes six conference victories, the team has shutout their opponents in each of the victories.

Marist will return to action on Saturday morning at noon against third-seeded Saint Peter's. During the regular season the Red Foxes shutout the Peacocks in a dual match at the East Campus Tennis Pavilion.