HAMDEN, Conn. – The Marist men's tennis team improved to 6-0 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play with a 7-0 sweep of conference newcomer, Quinnipiac. With the win, the men's tennis team moves to 12-4 overall this season.
The Red Foxes are on a 30-match MAAC winning streak during regular season play. The last regular season conference match Marist lost was on April 8, 2009. With today's win, Marist improves to a record-setting 118-6 mark in MAAC play under head coach Tim Smith.
“It was a good win against a MAAC opponent on a very windy day,” said Smith. “The match was a little closer than the score indicates. Our seniors set the tone by winning the first three singles. We anticipate with enthusiasm our final MAAC match which should determine the championship on Monday against Monmouth. My job was made easier and more enjoyable by coach Lane coming to coach and drive for us.”
Three seniors kicked off singles play for the Red Foxes with a sweep. Senior Lorenzo Rossi (Lugano, Switzerland) won a tough three-set match against Kei Ezaka, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4. Senior Dalen Klassen (St. Louis, Mo.) topped Eric Ambrosio, 6-3, 6-3. Senior Will Reznek (Toronto, Canada) defeated Luke Roser, 6-4, 6-2.
Marist saw success in the final three singles matches of the day as well. Junior Joseph Dube (Livonia, Mich.) cruised by Ryoma Haraguchi, 6-1, 6-1. Sophomore Fredrik Bjerke (Oslo, Norway) outlasted Carlos Fernandez in a tiebreaker, 2-6, 6-1, 10-5. Junior Matteo Giudici (Parma, Italy) rounded out singles play on a high note with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Ben Teicher.
Marist also swept doubles action against the Bobcats with victories in all three matches. Rossi and Reznek defeated Ambrosio and Roser, 8-4. Klassen and sophomore Trym Nagelstad (Oslo, Norway) were victorious against Ezaka and Haraguchi, 8-6. Giudici and freshman Dylan Fletcher (Stow, Mass.) downed Sebastian Barbero and Corey Morgenstern, 8-5.
The Red Foxes will play Monmouth on Monday, April 14 in its final MAAC match of the year. With a win, Marist would clinch its sixth consecutive MAAC Regular Season Championship title as well as its fifth straight undefeated conference season. The match is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at the East Campus Tennis Pavilion.
