HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Fairfield men's tennis improved to 2-0 today after defeating Hofstra on their home courts by a score of 4-3. The win came in dramatic fashion as the match came down to the final set for Kaya Gore.
 
Fairfield started off strong as they won the Doubles point. Kaya Gore and Jonathan Olive-Blanco defeated Giacomo Pezzoli and Jun Sasagawa in #1 Doubles by a score of 7-5. Griffin Schlesinger and Tyler Shibles then fell at #2 Doubles 4-6.  Lewis Edwards and Stefan Mitrovic then battled it out with Alvaro Lopez-Sanchez and Jonathan Mahrt Guyou in #3 Doubles taking the 7-6 win and the Doubles point into Singles play. 
 
In Singles, Lewis Edwards started off with a win at #4 Singles over Giacomo Pezzoli (6-3, 6-1). The Pride would then tie the match up 2-2 with wins at #2 and #5 Singles.  Jonathan Olive-Blanco defeated Ostap Kovalenko at #3 Singles (6-3, 0-6, 7-5) giving the Stags the lead but Hofstra won at #6 Singles to even the score at three apiece.  The match came down to Kaya Gore at #1 Singles as he battled Shawn Jackson in three sets. Gore prevailed by a score of (6-3, 5-7, 7-6) and sealed the win for the Stags.
 
"That was a fantastic tennis match" said Head Coach Jeff Bricker. "From the first point to the last point, they were fully focused and showed how much potential they have. Kaya came through in a big way with the clincher at 1 after being down 5-2 in the third. This a great team win and shows the younger guys what college tennis is all about!"
 
Fairfield will return to action as they host Sacred Heart on Monday, October 14 at 2:30 P.M. on the Walsh Athletic Center Tennis Courts.