April 20, 2007
FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Fairfield University men's tennis team broke the school record for wins in a season and advanced to the semifinals of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships with a 7-0 victory against fifth-seeded Siena College this afternoon at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The fourth-seeded Stags improve to 13-8 overall this season, eclipsing the previous school record of 12 victories that has been reached on four previous occasions.
At No. 1 singles, senior Jonathan Fernando (Verona, N.J.) recorded his 14th singles victory of the year with a 6-4, 6-3 decision over Jeremy Deuel. At No. 2 singles, freshman Ryan Berthod (White Plains, N.Y.) fought off Nick Rutherford, 6-2, 7-5.
Senior Zachary Morrison (Los Angeles, Calif.) posted his 20th individual victory of the year with a 6-1, 6-4 win against Stefan Putyera at No. 3 singles. Morrison, the reigning MAAC Player of the Week, has gone 8-2 in his last 10 matches, including five straight wins.
At No. 4 singles, junior Balazs Szikla (Budapest, Hungary) made quick work of Kevin Gioia downing him 6-0, 6-0 for his 17th win of the season.
At No. 5 single, sophomore Chip Palumbo (Winchester, Mass.) set a career best with his 14th singles victory of the year when he defeated Chris Auffredou, 6-1, 6-2. Junior Glen Gannon (Chatham, N.J.) rounded out the singles victories with a 6-1, 7-6(1) win against Mike Aliotta at No. 6 singles.
The Stags took all three doubles matches. At No. 1 doubles, Fernando and Palumbo posted their 16th win as partners by defeating Deuel and Rutherford, 8-3. The duo of Gannon and Szikla defeated Putyera and Auffredou, 8-1, at No. 2 doubles while Morrison and Berthod defeated Gioia and Jay Godbole, 8-3, at No. 3 singles.
Fairfield will face top-seeded Manhattan in tomorrow's semifinals beginning at 2p.m.
