Feb. 25, 2009

PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's men's tennis team lost a tough match at Penn on Wednesday afternoon by a score of 6-1. The highlight of the match was a victory at number six singles for SJU freshman Peter Cognetti.

"Our freshmen did great," head coach Ian Crookenden said. "It was an exciting match, and the boys played hard."

Penn won all three doubles matches to take the doubles point early on. The Quakers also cruised in the first three singles matches, winning all three in straight sets. At number four, freshman Jeff Kessler dropped the first set to Penn's Jason Lin, 6-3 before evening the match at a set apiece after winning the tiebreaker, 7-5. Lin then won the match in a super tiebreaker.

Cognetti took the first set of his match against Jeffrey Karsh, 6-2, before dropping the second set, 6-3. Cognetti battled back, winning the tie breaking set 10-7 to earn the Hawks a point.

SJU will play its last home match of the spring on Saturday night against Drexel. The Hawks and Dragons will meet at the Upper Dublin Sports Center in Ambler, Pa., at 5:30 p.m. The women's teams from both schools will also compete.

Penn 6, Saint Joseph's 1

Singles
1. Hicham Laalej (Penn) def. Pat Adams (Saint Joseph's), 6-1, 6-2
2. Jonathan Boym (Penn) def. Phil Bayliss (SJU), 6-1, 6-2
3. Alex Vasin (Penn) def. Michael Stauble (SJU), 6-3, 6-1
4. Jason Lin (Penn) def. Jeff Kessler (SJU), 6-3, 6-7(5), 10-1
5. Justen Roth (Penn) def. Matt Prusack (SJU), 6-2, 6-2
6. Peter Cognetti (SJU) def. Jeffrey Karsh (Penn), 6-2, 3-6, 10-7

Doubles
1. Laalej/Lin (Penn) def. Bayliss/Stauble (SJU), 8-6
2. Roth/Vasin (Penn) def. Adams/Kessler (SJU), 8-1
3. Dmitry Bury/Zach Gorn (Penn) def. Cognetti / Kevin Aquino (SJU), 8-6