Feb. 1, 2009

STAMFORD, Conn. - The Saint Joseph's men's tennis team fell to Fairfield by a 6-1 score on Saturday night at the Stamford Indoor Tennis Center. The Hawks fell to 0-2, while the Stags improved to 2-0.

Senior co-captain Pat Adams took his top-flight singles match, 6-4, 7-6 (6), over the Stags' Rob Ferrante.

The other SJU match victory came in number three doubles as rookies Jeff Kessler and Peter Cognetti defeated Aaron Chan and Chip Palumbo, 8-3.

Kessler also played a tough match at number four singles, as Fairfield's Joe Michalisin earned a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory.

"We had to use lot of freshmen, but it was a good challenge against a solid team," said head coach Ian Crookenden.

SJU will head to Jersey City, N.J. for matches with Saint Peter's and La Salle on February 7.

Results

Fairfield 6, Saint Joseph's 1

Singles
1. Pat Adams (Saint Joseph's) def. Rob Ferrante (Fairfield), 6-4, 7-6 (6)
2. Dan Sauter (FFD) def. Phil Bayliss (SJU), 6-3, 6-1
3. Ryan Berthod (FFD) def. Michael Stauble (SJU), 6-0, 6-0
4. Joe Michalisin (FFD) def. Jeff Kessler (SJU), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Aaron Chan (FFD) def. Peter Cognetti (SJU), 6-4, 6-1
6. Chip Palumbo (FFD) def. Kevin Aquino (SJU), 6-1, 6-0

Doubles
1. Ferrante/Michalisin (FFD) def. Bayliss/Stauble (SJU), 8-5
2. Berthod/Sauter (FFD) def. Adams/Aquino (SJU), 8-3
3. Cognetti/Kessler (SJU) def. Chan/Palumbo (FFD), 8-3