MANCHESTER, Conn.-In a match that had all the excitement that was missing from Sunday's Super Bowl, unless you are a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, the Fairfield University men's tennis team (1-3) picked up its first dual match win of 2025 with a tight 4-3 triumph over the Fordham University Rams (0-4).

After the Stags won Sunday's doubles' point and Fordham took three of the first five completed singles' flights, the outcome of the match came down to a back-and-forth dual at four singles between the Rams' Will Lokier and Fairfield sophomore Luca Benaibbouche.  After the two split the first two sets with Benaibbouche taking the first frame, 6-3, and then falling in set two, 5-7, Luca would lift the Stags to the match win by saving three matches points in the deciding third set and then claiming the victory, 7-6, by surging past his opponent, 7-3, in the tiebreaker.

Fairfield other singles wins against Fordham were straight-sets victories at number five by sophomore Domagoj Stabek, 6-3, 6-4, and at number six by junior Alex Aguiar, 6-4, 6-4.

The Stags got off the a fine start on Sunday evening winning the all-important doubles' point as Benaibbouche and senior Will O'Brien prevailed at number three, 6-4, and junior Kostas Kollias partnered with freshman Kacper Krolikowski to secure the point with a 7-5 win at number one.

Head coach Jeff Bricker was impressed with his team's fight on Sunday evening saying, "That was a great college atmosphere tonight from both teams. It was a nice first win of the season for us and a complete match. Luca came up clutch saving three match points in the third set and then shutting the door in the breaker. We still have plenty to improve on, but that was a great team victory!"

The Fairfield men's tennis team will look to start a winning streak next when the Stags return to the court on Saturday, February 16 hosting LIU at the Tennis Club of Trumbull.  Action is set to begin at 6:00 p.m.