West Point, N.Y. – The Fairfield University men' tennis team was unable to top out of conference foe Army this afternoon as they fell 4-3 after three-and-a-half hour match to the Black Knights in their first dual match of the spring season.
Despite the loss, the Stags went 2-1 in doubles play. Junior
Joe Michalisin and sophomore
Erik Kremheller continued their strong fall in doubles competition by defeating Army's Isoh and Johnson 8-5 in the No. 1 spot. Stag pair of freshman
Bjorn Merinder and junior
Dan Sauter dominated Holland and Verano 8-1 at No. 3 doubles. The win also marked Sauter's 100
th combined victory, joining current Stags,
Joe Michalisin, and
Rob Ferrante who have also reached the landmark. At No. 2 doubles, senior
Robert Ferrante and freshman
Dennis Zlobinsky were topped by Jang-Milsten and Von Velzer, 8-4.
In singles play,
Erik Kremheller and freshman
Reece Breault were the only Stags to win their individual matches. Kremheller defeated Holland at No. 5 singles, 6-2, 4-6, and 6-0 while Breault defeated Verano 7-6(2), 0-6, 6-1 in the No. 6 spot.
At No. 1 singles, Michalisin battled it out with Isoh in the second set, but fell 6-3, 7-5. Despite winning his second set, Sauter was defeated by Von Velzer in a hard fought match, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5) at No. 2 singles. At No. 3 singles,
Dennis Zlobinsky was topped by Johnson 6-3, 6-4 and
Rob Ferrante fell to Jang-Milsten 6-3, 6-4 at No. 4 singles.
The men's tennis team looks to bounce back with their home opener at Stamford Indoor Tennis Club February 4, when they host Stony Brook University. The match time is set for 8pm.
RESULTS
Doubles
1. Michalisin/E. Kremheller (FU) def. Johnson/Isoh, 8-5
2. Van Velzer/Jang-Milsten (Army) def. Zlobinsky/Ferrante, 8-3
3. Sauter/Merinder (FU) def. Verano/Holland, 8-1
Singles
1. Asika Isoh (Army) def. Joe Michalisin, 6-2, 7-5
2. Donald Van Velzer (Army) def. Dan Sauter, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Tripp Johnson (Army) def. Dennis Zlobinsky, 6-3, 6-4
4. Henry Jang-Milsten (Army) def. Rob Ferrante, 6-3, 6-3
5. Erik Kremheller (FU) def. Alex Holland, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0
6. Reece Breault (FU) def. Rommel Verano, 7-6 (7-2), 0-6, 6-4
