PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - The Fairfield Stags began their California travels in style as they defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 4-3 in a thriller at the Doral Desert Princess.
 
The match was deadlocked at 3-all, when Fairfield's captain Dan Sauter took charge and defeated his Seattle foe 6-3 in the third. Both teams, as is the custom in college tennis, crowded the court in the deciding match, with Fairfield eventually mobbing their teammate.
 
Fairfield started the day by clinching doubles with the two pairings of Sauter and Dennis Zlobinsky, and duo Cameron Amyot and Ian Tesmond.  The latter pair battled with their Gonzaga opponents, but came out on top in a 9-8 (2) match.  Big victories in singles came from Tesmond in No. 2 singles and Joe Michalisin in the three spot, both won straight sets.
 
The Stags next opponent in Palm Springs will be Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday.
 
Doubles
#1 Sauter/Zlobinskyn (F) d. Jamin/Mijotovic (G) 8-4
#2 HwaChong/Sullivan (G) d. Kremheller/Michalisin (F) 8-6
#3 Amyot/Tesmond (F) d. Ismath/Nazal (G) 9-8 (2)
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
 
Singles
#1 Alvaro Nazal (G) d. Dennis Zlobinsky (F) 6-1, 6-0
#2 Ian Tesmond (F) d. Levin Guillermo (G) 6-3, 6-1
#3 Joe Michalisin (F) d. Vladimir Mijotovic 7-6 (4), 6-3
# 4 Dan Sauter (F) d. Zhia HwaChong (G) 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3
#5 Oliver Jamin (G) d. George Tioutine (F) 6-4, 6-4
#6 Scott Sullivan (G) d. Cam Amyot (F) 6-1, 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 6, 3, 5, 4