West Windsor, N.J. – Fairfield men's tennis defeated Marist College, 4-3, in the 2012 MAAC Championship this morning in a battle to the finish.  The Stags and the Red Foxes were tied at three-apiece as the final point came down to the No. 1 singles match between senior co-captain Dan Sauter and MAAC Men's Player of the Year, Lorenzo Rossi.

With one match to finish and tied at three-all, Sauter and Rossi both fought hard to capture the MAAC title for their teams.  Earlier in the season Sauter dropped to Rossi in the regular season dual match between the two, 6-4, 6-2.  Today, the Stag dropped the first set but came back hard with a 6-1 victory in the second set.  The two student-athletes were tied at 4-4 in the third set as both teams looked on, cheering for their teammates.  Sauter pulled up 5-4 over Rossi and needed one last set to win his first ever MAAC Championship.  He did just that, capturing the next game and defeating the the MAAC Player of the Year, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. Sauter was named the Most Outstanding Performer of the MAAC Championship for his efforts.
 
Continuing their dominant doubles play, Fairfield took the first two matches to gain the momentum entering singles play.  At No. 1 doubles, Sauter and Dennis Zlobinsky finished first, defeating Matt Himmelsbach and Matteo Guidici, 8-3.  In the two spot, Joe Michalisin and Erik Kremheller faced Lorenzo Rossi and Joris Van Eck, taking the Marist duo, 8-6 to clinch the lone doubles point.  The third spot for doubles was unfinished after Fairfield had already clinched the point.

Singles was a back and forth battle throughout the six matches but in the end Fairfield came out on top.  Marist gained back a bit of momentum with Matt Himmelsbach defeating Michalisin in two sets to start singles play.  However, the next four matches would lead to a tied dual with one match to finish, No. 1 singles.  Fairfield came away with victories in the two and five spot.  Ian Tesmond, an All-MAAC First Team selection, defeated Van Eck, 6-4, 6-2, at No. 2 singles while Kremheller defeated Joseph Dube 6-3, 6-2 after having lost to the Red Fox earlier in the year.  Marist earned wins in the three, four and six spots over Michalisin, Zlobinsky, and Cameron Amyot. 
 
After meeting Marist in the MAAC Championship final for the fifth consecutive year, but never pulling out the win, the Stags couldn't have wanted a Championship more.  This is Fairfield's first MAAC Championship title since the 1997-98 season and the team's first time defeating Marist College since 2009.
 
The dates of the first and second rounds for the 2012 NCAA Tournament are to be determined but will be played May 11-12, or May 12-13.  The Selection Show for men's team tennis will be held on Tuesday, May 1, at 5:30pm.  More information will be posted as it becomes available.
 
 
Doubles
1.       Sauter/Zlobinsky (F) def. Matteo Guidici/Himmelsbach (M) 8-3
2.       Michalisin/Kremheller (F) def. Van Eck/Rossi (M) 8-6
3.       Bishop/Klassen (M) def. Tesmond/Amyot (F) unfinished
 
Singles
1.       Dan Sauter (F) def. Lorenzo Rossi (M) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
2.       Ian Tesmond (F) def. Joris van Eck (M) 6-4, 6-2
3.       Matt Himmelsbach (M) def. Joe Michalisin (F) 6-1, 6-0
4.       Will Reznek (M) def. Dennis Zlobinsky (F) 6-3, 6-2
5.       Erik Kremheller (F) def. Joseph Dube (M) 6-3, 6-2
6.       Dalen Klassen (M) def. Cameron Amyot (F) 6-2, 6-2