WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – The Marist men's tennis team notched a 4-0 victory over third-seeded Quinnipiac in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) semifinals on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Red Foxes advanced to its 10th straight MAAC title match.
Freshman Jan Dernic (Koper, Solvenia) clinched the match with a victory at sixth singles. He turned in a 6-2, 6-4 triumph over Kyle Alper. MAAC Rookie of the Year Rudolf Kurz (Oberpullendorf, Austria) prevailed at second singles for Marist (14-7). Kurz made the score 2-0 in favor of Marist after he cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 victory at second singles. He defeated Quinnipiac's Jonas Kuwert. Senior Matteo Giudici (Parma, Italy) also netted a 6-3, 6-2 win at fifth singles over Luke Roser.
The Red Foxes took the doubles point with victories at the first and second spots in the lineup. Junior Joe Motta (Staten Island, N.Y.) and Fredrik Bjerke (Oslo, Norway) posted an 8-3 victory at first doubles over Kuwert and Roser. Guidici teamed with Justin Chanthalangsy (San Marcos, Calif.) for an 8-4 triumph at the second position.
Top-seeded Monmouth defeated fourth-seeded Niagara 4-0 in the other semifinal matchup.
The Red Foxes will face top-seeded Monmouth in the championship match on Sunday, April 26, at 2 p.m. This marks the second straight year the teams will meet in the MAAC Championship match. Last year, the Red Foxes topped the Hawks 4-2 in the conference championship.
Full Results
Doubles
1. Fredrik Bjerke/Joe Motta (MARM) def. Jonas Kuwert/Luke Rosen (QUM) 8-3
2. Justin Chanthalangsy/Matteo Giudici (MARM) def. Kei Ezaka/Ryoma Haraguchi (QUM) 8-4
3. Eric Ambrosio/William Van Biezen (QUM) def. Rudolf Kurz/Dylan Fletcher (MARM) 8-5
Singles
1. Justin Chanthalangsy (MARM) vs. Kei Ezaka (QUM) 7-6, 2-3, unfinished
2. Rudolf Kurz (MARM) def. Jonas Kuwert (QUM) 6-2, 6-1
3. Fredrik Bjerke (MARM) vs. Eric Ambrosio (QUM) 5-7, 6-4, unfinished
4. Joseph Dube (MARM) vs. Julian Rozenstein (QUM) 6-7, 3-1, unfinished
5. Matteo Giudici (MARM) def. Luke Rosen (QUM) 6-3, 6-2
6. Jan Dernic (MARM) def. Kyle Alper (QUM) 6-2, 6-4
