Men's tennis serves up a split

By Olivia Biagi
Collegian Editor
October 10, 2007

It was another 1-1 week for men’s tennis as the Explorers shut out Philadelphia University Thursday at home, and then lost on the road to the University of Rhode Island, Saturday.

Thursday proved an easy advance to a 7-2 record as first doubles sophomore Jon Maula and freshman George Gennaoui took an 8-5 victory, and second doubles freshman Andy Petrusky and sophomore Ryan Knarr dominated with a score of 8-1.

Mike Dao - Junior Lauren Perry sets up a backhand earlier this season at Belfield Courts.

In singles, the Explorers rolled through a series of straight-set victories. Gennaoui earned a 6-1, 6-1 victory at number one. Sophomore Matt Rivera won 6-1, 6-4 at number two, while third singles senior Eric Glick finished at 6-2, 6-2. In the number four position, Maula won 6-2, 6-3, while Petrusky pitched a shut out at number five in 45 minutes, 6-0, 6-0. At number six, Chris Butera won 6-2, 6-3.

Unfortunately, the Explorers couldn’t execute as well against Rhode Island.

“Today we saw what it was like to play a team that has a lot of depth and high level of play throughout their line up,” head coach Ed Colfer told GoExplorers.com. “Rhode Island always fields a great team year in and year out. We’re headed in that direction as a team, and I think it’s just a matter of time before we’ll be able to give teams like this a run for their money. [Petrusky] and [Knarr] showed us a glimpse of that today winning at number two doubles.”

Petrusky and Knarr clinched the only win Saturday at second doubles, 8-6. First doubles Gennaoui and Maula came close to winning the doubles point for the Explorers, but lost 8-6.

In singles, the Rams dominated over the Explorers with five straight-set matches, three of which that lasted less than an hour. Only first singles Gennaoui was able to put up a fight, going three sets and facing a tie breaker in the third against 6’9” Swede Henrik Almstrom. The Swede took the first set easily at 6-1, but Gennaoui fought back in the second set with a 7-5 win. Gennaoui lost the third set tie breaker with a double fault and Almstrom’s second serve ace for match point.

Rivera and Glick both fell quickly at second and third singles, 6-2, 6-1. At fourth singles Maula lost 6-1, 6-2, and number five Knarr lost 6-1, 6-1. At number six, Butera fell 6-2, 6-0.

The Explorers now stand at 7-3 with only two matches left in the fall season. First up is a home match against Wagner Saturday, followed by an away match Sunday at Lafayette.

biagio1@lasalle.edu