FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Feb. 19, 2011) – The Saint Francis University men's team was able to pull off a quick, 5-2, win over Chicago State during the last of their three matches in Fort Wayne. The Red Flash managed to clinch the doubles point by securing wins in the second and third positions.

“I was happy to see our men finally triumph in doubles,” said SFU head coach Paul Tobin. “This was an issue going into these matches and the emphasis was on closing points at the net.”

The No. 1 doubles team of Elahn Pogue (St. Catherines, Ontario/West Park) and Nathaniel Fleming had difficulty closing out the match against a very strong Chicago State duo. It was just the second loss of the season for the Flash team which was able to clinch wins over Navy and UMBC.

Saint Francis' No. 2 doubles team of Stephen Kowalski (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) and Andres Rosa (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Colegio la Piedad) managed to close out a tough match against the hard-working Cougars. Saint Francis took the third doubles spot by default.

In singles play, SFU's wins came from Fleming and Rosa who easily dismissed Chicago State's Nos. 3 and 4 players.

“The experience of playing such profile schools early in the season is what my players need to build their confidence in hitting bigger balls,” said Tobin. “The Chicago State team had difficulty maintaining an offense position in both matches.”

“I am proud of the way my players played today,” Tobin continued. “I don't mind losing against schools that are worthy opponents. This is a team I knew that we should beat.”


Saint Francis 5, Chicago State 2
Doubles
No. 1 – Chopra/ Choudhary (CSU) def. Pogue/Fleming (SFU), 8-4
No. 2 – Kowalski/Rosa (SFU) def. Lam/ Regus (CSU), 8-6
No. 3 – Natchev/Mendes (SFU) by default

Singles
No. 1 – Ankit Chopra (CSU) def. E. Pogue (SFU), 6-3, 6-2
No. 2 – Armaan Choudhary (CSU) def. S. Kowalski (SFU), 6-1, 6-3
No. 3 – N. Fleming (SFU) def. Viet Lam (CSU), 6-0, 7-6
No. 4 – A. Rosa (SFU) def. Rave Regus (CSU), 6-2, 6-1
No. 5 – K. Mendes (SFU) by default