Sept. 22, 2008

Results

Fairfield, CT - The Sacred Heart men's tennis team posted wins over visiting Siena and St. Francis (NY) this weekend. The Pioneers opened at home with a decisive 7-0 victory over Siena College. The Pioneers edged out conference rival St. Francis (NY) capturing 4 singles points in a 4-3 triumph. The wins send the Pioneers to 2-0 at the of the 2008 campaign.

The Pioneers swept the singles matches against Siena and were led by Kirill Kasyanov (Yonkers, NY/Sadllebrook Prep) who cruised to an easy 6-0, 6-1 win at first singles. Jinal Shah (Mombasa, Kenya/The Citadel), Adam Gart (Bedford, MA/University of Rhode Island), Michael Syer (Ontario, Canada/St. Ignatius of Loyola), and Chadd Sullo (Orange, CT/Amity) all recorded their singles victory in straight sets. The only tough singles match came in the second position as Nick Mazzarese (Stonington, CT/Stonington) fought to a 3-6, 6-4, {1-0} win as his opponent retired.

Mazzarese and Shah won their doubles match with ease defeating Siena's Jarrett Siwiec and Kevin Gioia 8-2. The only blemish of the match for the Pioneers came at first doubles as Kasyanov and Gart lost 8-7. It was Syer and Sullo who secured the doubles point and assured a SHU sweep as they defeated the Godbole brothers 8-4.

In the second match of the day against SFNY several new faces entered the Pioneer lineup. The Pioneers lost the doubles point as Bryan Rodgers (Mystic, CT/Fitch) and Cole Conrad (Fairfield, CT/Saddlebrook Prep) fell 8-5 and Jacob Miller (West Chesterfield, NH) and Shah dropped an 8-3 decision. Matt Cook (Milford, CT/Law) and John Harvey did record an 8-3 win at third doubles.

The Pioneers also suffered a worrying start as Kirill lost his number one singles match 6-1, 6-2. Sacred Heart would rally and score points with singles victories from Sullo, Miller, and Harvey. The match was decided by its only three set affair as Rodgers outlasted Elan Evans 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. The Pioneers used the four victories at singles to escape with a 4-3 win.

The men's tennis team will be back in action at the University of Connecticut Invitational in Storrs, CT September 26-28.