April 19, 2007
First-year head coach Ed Paige and the Fairfield University men's and women's tennis teams will find themselves at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, April 20-22, for the 2007 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships.
With a 4-3 conference record, the men's team secured the No. 4 seed in the tournament. Fairfield will take on fifth-seeded Siena at 1:30 p.m. during the opening round of competition on April 20. The Stags defeated the Saints by a score of 6-1 earlier this season.
Fairfield (12-8) recorded 12 match victories for the third straight season, tying a school record. The Stags are lead by senior captains Zachary Morrison and Jonathan Fernando. Morrison enters the tournament as the reigning MAAC Player of the Week riding a four-match winning streak. He leads the team with a career-best 19-9 mark at No. 3 singles. Fernando has posted 13 wins on the season at No. 1 singles and 15 victories at No. 1 singles with partner Chip Palumbo. Morrison, with a combined 119 victories, and Fernando, with a combined 118 victories, will leave Fairfield as the top-two all-time victories leaders.
Junior Balazs Szikla stands at 16-9, playing primarily at No. 4 singles. Palumbo and rookie Ryan Berthod have each posted a 13-12 mark at No. 5 and No. 2 singles, respectively. Junior Glen Gannon has been stellar in conference matches, going 5-2 at No. 6 singles bringing his overall record to 12-6.
After an injury-plagued year, the women's team earned the No. 6 seed in the tournament. Fairfield (8-11, 2-5 MAAC) will face third-seeded Siena at 11 a.m. during the first round of play on April 20. The Stags fell to the Saints 6-1 earlier this month.
For all of the latest match-ups and tournament information, visit the MAAC Championship Central.
