Men's tennis finishes fall season

By Olivia Biagi
Collegian Editor
October 17, 2007

Men’s tennis finished its fall semester season with a win at home and a loss on the road this past weekend. The Explorers’ final home match of the season, played against Wagner University Saturday, resulted in a 7-0 win.

La Salle came out strong early in the match, earning all three doubles points. First and third doubles won easily, each with a score of 8-3. Number two doubles sophomore Ryan Knarr and freshman Andy Petrusky faced a little trouble. They were up 4-1 when Wagner turned up the heat, bringing the score to a close 6-5. Knarr and Petrusky were able to finish it off, winning the last two games with a final score of 8-5.

Head coach Ed Colfer changed the ladder up for the final home match, pairing sophomore Chris Harvey and freshman Chris Stonis together for third doubles. Junior Justin Feiner took the final point.

“[Saturday] was a good day to get some of the other guys involved that aren’t everyday starters for us out there,” Colfer told GoExplorers.com. “I thought the Chris’s played well together at number three doubles and Justin came in very nicely for us at number six singles.”

The Explorers dominated in singles, with two matches that ended in only 45 minutes. First singles freshman George Gennaoui took a 6-1, 6-0 win, while senior Eric Glick went 6-2, 6-3 at number two. Petrusky and Knarr both won 6-1, 6-0 quickly at numbers three and four, respectively. Junior Chris Butera shut out his opponent at number five, and Feiner finished up with a 6-2, 6-0 victory.

Unfortunately, in continuing a streak of 1-1 weeks for men’s tennis, the Explorers did not end their season on a win. La Salle traveled to Lafayette College Sunday and lost 6-1.

Despite that, the team lost the doubles point, Gennaoui and sophomore Jon Maula played an amazing match at number one. The duo was down 6-1, but managed to win seven straight games for a final score of 8-6. Numbers two and three doubles couldn’t do the same, and lost 8-1 and 8-0, respectively.

In singles, the Explorers started out strong, taking an early lead in four of the six matches, but it didn’t last. Gennaoui went three sets at number one, but couldn’t clinch the win. Petrusky lost in straight sets at number two, 6-1, 6-2, and number three sophomore Matt Rivera came close in the first set, but ultimately lost 7-5, 6-2.

Glick lost 6-1, 6-2 at number four, and Knarr, who led 3-1 in the second set, lost in straight sets at number six, 6-3, 6-3. Maula pulled off the only win for the Explorers at number five, 6-2, 7-5.

The Explorers finished their fall season with an 8-4 record.

biagio1@lasalle.edu