By John Geilfuss
Going into their match against Fairfield, the men and women’s tennis team were looking for something different.
Led by sophomore Nikola Djordjevic the men’s team was able to accomplish that task. After dropping their first two matches of the season against Vermont and Brown, the Pride defeated Fairfield 6-1 on Saturday March 6 for their first win of the young season. Djordjevic got the Pride rolling as he defeated the Stags Jon Fernando on consecutive sets at first singles. The Pride’s top ranked player also won his match at first doubles as he teamed up with classmate Matt Schor to defeat Colin Torrance and Steve Kourj with an 8-4 decision.
The match looked as if it may be close when the Stags were able to even the score by topping the team of Robert Sforzo and Rodrigo Teixeira. Following the loss, sophomores Michael Bosch and Jared Coggan barely escaped Fernando and Kevin Nyarady to win third doubles 9-8 and 7-5. The narrow victory gave the double points to the Prides side and helped them start on the right foot going into the singles competition.
Once the singles play began it didn’t take the Pride long to clinch their first victory of the season. After Djordjevic’s victory, Bosch defeated Kourj in consecutive sets. It was the first victory of the season for Bosch who is off to an impressive start on his first season for the Pride. Schor kept the streak going as he to defeated Torrance in consecutive sets. The streak of wins in consecutive sets would soon be snapped as Teixeira lost to Nyrady in the closest match of the day. Teixeira dropped the first set 7-6, than won 7-4 before finally dropping the match by the score of 6-2. After Teixeira’s close battle, the Pride would see another two tiebreakers with the results going their way in both situations. Sforzo defeated freshman Zach Morrison 6-1 in the opening set. In the second set the sophomore fell to the freshman 6-1, before capturing the victory by a 15-13 tiebreaking set. Coggan ended the Pride’s successful day on a positive night as he defeated freshman Paul Goldberg in the third straight three set match.
The match was a good one for the Pride and was their first victory on the young season. Six out of the eight matches were won by the Pride athletes on the day as they defeated the Stags. They next return to action for their first home match of the season on March 14 when they play host to the Greyhounds of Loyola (MD) College.The lady Pride could not earn their first victory of the season, as they fell to the Stags 6-1. It was the first time this season that the Pride had not been swept.
Towson transfer Jill Spiritus put the Pride on the board, as she defeated Michelle Gellar in consecutive sets at 6-1 in both matches at fifth singles. Adriana Segura and Mayo had the closest other matches as they fell to the Stags Megan Stauffer and Erin Reeves 6-2 and 6-3. Jillian Schalk, Erika Reggiani and Malezhik dropped all dropped their single matches in consecutive sets.
In doubles play the Pride were swept in all three of their matches. Reggiani and Malezhik had the closest match falling to Reeves and Diani Webb 8-2. Hosado and Segura were than defeated by Taylor Barvoets and Andrea Suriano 8-1. In the last match of the afternoon Schalk and Spiritus fell to the duo of Stuffer and Ann Mullowney.
The Pride will be searching for their first victory of the season as they too play host to the Greyhounds on March 14.