HAMDEN, Conn. (Feb. 26, 2012) – Northeast Conference preseason favorite Quinnipiac used its slick indoor courts to its advantage on Sunday, downing the Saint Francis men's tennis team in a hard-fought, 5-2, league match on Sunday.

The Red Flash won the doubles point against the Bobcats to take an early 1-0 lead but struggled in singles play – partially due to some key injuries. 

“I wasn't happy that we were playing on their slick indoor courts which I thought did not favor our men,” said SFU head coach Paul Tobin. “We had a chance to practice on Saturday night and the consensus was that we all needed to minimize baseline rallies and close out points at the net. This is not easy for some players who are accustomed to building points at the baseline.”

Saint Francis' Andres Rosa (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Colegio la Piedad) and Nate Fleming (Gas City, Ind./Missossonewa) pulled out a, 8-6, win at no.1 doubles and Sergio Carvajal (Nueva Esparta, Venezuela/U.E. Fray Elias Maria Sendra) and Chris Jimenez (Bayside, N.Y./St. Francis Preparatory) took the no. spot with an identical score to clinch the day's first point.

Quinnipiac took the first four singles matches to earn the win, but it was against a depleted Saint Francis lineup.  Fleming and Carvajal, who wielded the nos. 2 and 3 racquets, were both forced to retire due to injury.

Jimenez registered the only Flash singles win of the afternoon, earning the point at the no. 5 position, 6-4, 1-6 (8).

“I am convinced that the wins and competitive scores today are a reflection of the difficult matches we have been playing for the past month,” Tobin professed.

The Flash now takes some well-deserved time off and will resume action on March 17 against Mount St. Mary's and Robert Morris in Emmitsburg, Md.


Quinnipiac 5, Saint Francis 2

Doubles
Rosa/Fleming (SFU) def. Kwei/Lazerowich (QU) 8-6
Carvajal/Jimenez (SFU) def. Weeden/Bailey (QU) 8-6
Ambrosio/Lane (QU) def. Barter/Pardo (SFU) 8-5

Singles
Weeden (QU) def. Rosa (SFU) 6-0, 6-3
Kwei (QU) def. Fleming (SFU) 6-1, ret
Lane (QU) def. Carvajal (SFU) 6-1, 1-1 ret
Morgenstern (QU) def. Barter (SFU) 6-2, 6-3
Jimenez (SFU) def. Ambrosio (QU) 6-4, 1-6 (8)
Petrini (QU) def. Pardo (SFU) 6-4, 6-2