Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn.  - The Fairfield University men's tennis team defeated Manhattan College, 6-1, this afternoon in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) match at the Walsh Athletic Center Tennis Courts. With the victory, the Stags even their overall record to 9-9 and improve to 3-2 in the conference while the Jaspers (0-10, 0-7 MAAC) were left still seeking their first win of the season. 

Fairfield opened the day by taking doubles point. At second doubles, the duo of senior Glen Gannon (Chatham, N.J.) and freshman George Laffey (Basking Ridge, N.J.) blanked Michael Borger and Jeff Conklin, 8-0. Sophomore Ryan Berthod (White Plains, N.Y.) and freshman Rob Ferrante (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) posted a win at No. 1 doubles over Mihai Nichifor and Peter Czink, 2-1, ret. The Stags won by walkover at third doubles. 

The Stags took five out of the six singles matches; two of those wins were by walkovers while the rest were by shutout. At No. 3 singles, Laffey defeated Borger, 6-0, 6-0, while Chip Palumbo (Winchester, Mass.) won by the same margin against Chris Tucci at No. 4 singles. Palumbo's win was his third straight as he improves to 14-7 on the season. The 14 wins tie a career high for the junior. 

At No. 5 singles, Bob Kelly (Queensbury, N.Y.) checked into the line-up and made quick work of Jeff Conklin in the 6-0, 6-0 victory.

Manhattan's lone point came at No. 1 singles as Nichifor defeated Berthod, 6-2, 6-0. 

Fairfield will play out the rest of the regular season at home. The Stags host Loyola on Saturday, April 12, at 10 a.m. and Rider on April 13 at noon in their final match. Prior to the start of the match against the Broncs, Fairfield will honor its two graduating seniors. The 2008 MAAC Tennis Championships will be held April 15-18 at the Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y.