FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University men's and women's tennis teams will play in their first dual matches against MAAC opponent Rider University tomorrow, September 21 on the Walsh Athletic Center Tennis Courts at 2 p.m.

The women's team enters MAAC play coming off a split weekend at the Quinnipiac Invitational and an impressive showing at the Columbia Invitational.  In Manhattan, N.Y., Monica Yajima and Sharissa Ryan paired up advancing to the doubles championship round dropping to a duo from the University of Pennsylvania.  Ryan and Yajima each competed in their respective singles tournaments, where Ryan contended for the Flight B championships dropping to another Penn player in the finals (6-2, 6-2). 

The men last played in the Fairfield Doubles Festival hosted by Sacred Heart University on September 10 where Joe Michalisin and Ian Tesmond captured the No. 1 doubles championship defeating Quinnipiac 8-2.  All four other pairings from Fairfield competed in the consolation semifinals of their particular pools.  Michalisin currently owns 138 combined victories for his career, only three behind current record holder, 2010 graduate Ryan Berthod with 141 career wins.  Senior Dan Sauter is also on the list, tied for fourth with 126.

The Broncs are led by head coach Ed Torres who is now in his 16^th season with Rider University.  The men's team dropped their first dual against Lafayette on September 14, 0-7.  Freshman Steven Brand won two out of his three matches in the Monmouth Invitational over the team's first weekend of play.  The women's team had their first matchup of the year against MAAC opponent Manhattan on September 17 unable to come up with a win, dropping 0-7.

Next up for the Fairfield men's tennis team is the USTA Invitational in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. over the weekend of September 23.  The women won't play again until September 29 when they will face another MAAC opponent, Manhattan College, on the Walsh Athletic Center Tennis Courts at 4 p.m.