March 13, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Saint Joseph's men's tennis team earned a 5-2 victory over South Dakota State on Friday to wrap up its spring break trip to Florida. Not including the match with Creighton, which was abandoned due to darkness, the Hawks were an impressive 3-1 for the week.

For the fourth consecutive match, Saint Joseph's (7-5 on the spring) earned the doubles point to get off to a good start in the match. Freshmen Peter Cognetti and Jeff Kessler finished the week perfect at number two doubles, defeating their opponent, 8-2. Pat Adams and Matt Prusack secured the opening tally with a 9-8 win at third doubles.

In singles play, Adams retired in the number one flight while leading 4-3. Phil Bayliss then fell in a super tiebreaker at number two, 3-6, 6-3, 10-7 to give SDSU a temporary advantage. However, the Hawks rattled off wins in the last four flights, culminating in Cognetti's 6-2, 6-3 win at number six, to secure the match.

Cognetti finished an impressive week undefeated. He was 3-0 in singles play in the sixth flight and 4-0 in doubles, playing at number two. Kessler was 3-1 playing at number four singles as well.

SJU returns to action on Tuesday, March 24 at Villanova.

Saint Joseph's 5, South Dakota State 2

Doubles
1. Paluch/Enjdach (SDSU) def. Phil Bayliss / Michael Stauble (SJU), 8-3
2. Jeff Kessler / Peter Cognetti (SJU) def. Malik/Lauseng (SDSU), 8-2
3. Matt Prusack / Pat Adams (SJU) def. Pyle/Simms (SDSU), 9-8 (4)

Singles
1. Paluch (SDSU) def. Adams (SJU), 3-4, retired
2. Enjdach (SDSU) def. Bayliss (SJU), 3-6, 6-3, 10-7
3. Stauble (SJU) def. Malik (SDSU), 6-1, 6-0
4. Kessler (SJU) def. Pyle (SDSU), 6-4, 7-6 (6)
5. Prusack (SJU) def. Lauseng (SDSU), 6-2, 6-1
6. Cognetti (SJU) def. Simms (SDSU), 6-2, 6-3