BREVARD COLLEGE NIPS SAINTS, 5-4,

IN FINAL MATCH OF SPRING TRIP

Mar. 21: The St. Lawrence University men’s tennis team completed their spring trip to Hilton Head, SC on Friday with a match against Brevard College, a Division II opponent. Though the Saints won three of the six singles matches, they were unable to dig out of a 2-1 hole after doubles play and fell to Brevard 5-4.

St. Lawrence (4-3) earned one point in doubles from the first year duo of Will Cook and Ryan Gillard. The rookies defeated Shane Apps and Sam Johnston 8-6 to help the Saints avoid being swept in doubles play. Brevard won both the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, as Cole Altizer and Jared Fisher held off junior Jon Satkowski and sophomore Chris McDonald 8-5, while Konstantin Savelyev and Andrew Thompson knocked off sophomores Christopher Tamm and Chris Rodilosso, 8-2.

The Scarlet and Brown began their rally with a win at No. 1 singles by Satkowski, who improved to 8-3 on the season individually with a 4-6, 6-1, 10-5 come-from-behind win over Savelyev. Gillard would give St. Lawrence another point at No. 5 singles, downing Apps 6-2, 2-6, 10-2, while senior co-captain Amin Danai looked sharp in No. 6 singles, beating Johnston 6-3, 6-4.

Brevard, though, was able to buckle down and secure the victory with wins at the 2, 3, and 4 singles slots. Thompson controlled his match with junior Pete Abernethy at No. 2 singles with a 6-2, 6-0 win, while Fisher handled McDonald at No. 3 singles 6-0, 6-1.

Despite his best efforts, Cook could not overcome Altizer at No. 4 singles, falling to his opponent 6-3, 6-1, giving Brevard College the 5-4 win.

“We took on another strong opponent today in Division II Brevard, and we pulled out three key singles victories but came up short in doubles again today,” said Saints head coach Jeremy Freeman. “I am happy with the way we competed today and with all of our matches here in Hilton Head.”

The Saints will be in action again next weekend as they play host to the College of New Jersey on Saturday, March 29 and kick off conference play against Skidmore College on Sunday, March 30.

SAINTS RALLY IN SINGLES PLAY

TO BEAT ST. THOMAS, 6-3

Mar. 20: Despite falling behind 2-1 after the doubles portion of their match against St. Thomas on Thursday, the St. Lawrence University men’s tennis team stormed back in the singles matches, winning five of the six showdowns to capture a 6-3 win against the Tommies.

St. Thomas jumped out to a lead behind solid performances from their top doubles teams. Arya Vaughan and Tyler Rice defeated St. Lawrence’s junior Jon Satkowski and sophomore Chris McDonald 8-3 at No. 1 doubles, while the Tommies took a 2-0 lead with a 8-4 win from Ben Herding and Kevin Manzel over sophomores Christopher Tamm and Chris Rodilosso.

However, the rookie combination of Will Cook and Ryan Gillard turned the tide in the Saints’ favor in the No. 3 doubles, as the pair defeated their opponents from St. Thomas 8-6, keeping their team in the match headed into singles play.

Four of the six singles matches would see a third set, as the two teams showed their depth from spots

No. 1 through 6. Though Vaughan would defeat Satkowski at No. 1 singles 6-3, 2-6, 10-8, the Scarlet and Brown would win all five of the following matches to secure a 6-3 victory.

Junior Pete Abernethy came from behind in his No. 2 match against Herding, winning 2-6, 6-2, 10-6. McDonald would earn some retribution with a 6-3, 5-7, 10-8 win over Rice at No. 3 singles, while Cook won in straight sets against Manzel, 7-6 (2), 6-2.

Gillard joined his doubles partner in the victory column with an impressive 6-1, 6-4 win over St. Thomas’ Andy Michels, and senior co-captain Amin Danai outlasted Phil Hanke in the No. 6 singles spot, 2-6, 6-3,

11-9 for the match’s final point.

“ St. Thomas has a strong program and has the reputation for having a deep team with plenty of talent,” said Saints head coach Jeremy Freeman, whose team moved to 4-2 in dual-matches on the season.

“With four of the six singles matches going the distance, and another than had a tiebreaker, to be able to win five of the matches took tremendous effort and focus. I’m extremely proud of how we fought back after losing two of three doubles.”

The Saints will look to carry some momentum over to their final match of the spring trip against Bravard College on Friday at 12:00pm.

SAINTS FALL TO MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE IN OPENING MATCH OF SPRING TRIP

Mar. 18: The St. Lawrence University men’s tennis team dropped its opening match of their trip to Hilton Head, SC on Tuesday to Mississippi College by the score of 5-2.

The Saints (3-2) took one point in doubles competition behind a strong showing from rookies Will Cook and Ryan Gillard in the No. 3 slot. The duo knocked off Mississippi College’s Walt Freeman and Andrew Brewer, 9-7, to earn the lone point for the Scarlet and Brown.

Mississippi College took a 2-1 lead into singles play, as Chas Dunn and Pat Stanton defeated juniors Jon Satkowski and Pete Abernethy at No. 1 doubles, 8-6, and Cory Seay and Jerrod Rayborn beat sophomores Christopher Tamm and Chris Rodilosso, 8-2.

The Choctaws took control of the match with wins at both No. 1 and 2 singles to take a 4-1 cushion. Dunn defeated Satkowski, 6-2, 6-2, in the opening match, while Stanton solved Abernethy, 6-2, 6-2.

The Saints lone point in singles came from McDonald, as the Manchester, MA native defeated Rayborn 7-5, 6-3 and No. 3 singles to close the gap to 4-2. However, a win by Seay at No. 4 singles in a fantastic match over Cook (6-4, 3-6, 10-8) ensured Mississippi College of the victory, 5-2.

“ Mississippi College has a very strong men’s program, but we were in it all the way,” said Saints head coach Jeremy Freeman. “Our doubles is showing signs of improvement, and having touch matches such as today’s will only make us stronger.”

The Saints will have Wednesday off before returning to action against St. Thomas at 12:30pm on Thursday, March 20.