FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. (Sept. 24, 2013) – Freshman Plamen Avuski (Plovdiv, Bulgaria /Math High School ) stood out for the Saint Francis U men's tennis team during a weekend appearance at the U.S. Open Invitational.  The Red Flash totaled five wins at the event, with Avuski earning three of those.

"I was happy with the progress the team showed this weekend," said first-year Frankie coach Rob Castille.  "We worked on several things after the Bucknell Invitational and I saw improvements in those areas."

Avuski finished the event with a 3-1 record in his singles flight, making a run to the finals before falling to Bucknell's Jordan Leib in a tight 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 decision.  The SFU rookie opened singles play with lopsided wins over Monmouth's Jason Prezant (6-1, 6-2) and Bucknell's Luca Bagi (6-2, 6-3) before a more competitive match against Scott Bernstein (6-3, 6-4), also of the Bison.

"I am particularly proud of how Plamen did," said Castille. "While he came up just short of winning his Flight, he competed very well and had a great tournament. Overall, it was an awesome experience for the team to be able to compete on the courts where the US Open is held."

Washi Gervias and Chris Jimenez (Bayside, N.Y./St. Francis Preparatory) notched an opening-round win over Duk Young Park and Evan Ward of Morgan State (9-7) before falling short in the quarterfinals.  Likewise, Lawson Barter (Chicago, Ill./Loyola) and Rodrigo Tico (Guadalajara, Mexico/Colegio de Bachilleres) Fernandez teamed up to down Fordham's Max Peara and JJ Tauil, 8-4, before bowing out.

"With a few weeks off before our next tournament, we will work hard in practice and in the gym and focus on getting better each day," Castille said.

The Red Flash get back to work on Oct. 25-27 when it takes part in the Youngstown State Invitational.




MEN'S OPEN DOUBLES 1
Round of 16
Gervais/Jimenez (SFU) def. Park/Ward (MSU), 9-7

Quarterfinals
Norregaad/Schultz (NJIT) def. Gervais/Jimenez (SFU), 8-6


MEN'S OPEN DOUBLES 2
Round of 16
Barter/Tico Fernandez (SFU) def. Peara/Tauil (Fordham), 8-4
Kumthonkittikul/Viera (Monmouth) def. Cerdan/Korus (SFU), 8-6

Quarterfinals
Alban/Artursson (NJIT) def. Barter/Tico Fernandez (SFU), 8-2


MEN'S OPEN DOUBLES 3
Round of 16
Hochner/Malka (Marist) def. Avuski/Pardo (SFU), 8-6


MEN'S OPEN SINGLES A
Round of 16
Kumthonkittikul (Monmouth) def. Cerdan (SFU), 6-4, 4-6, 10-7


MEN'S OPEN SINGLES B
Round of 16
Hagn (YSU) def. Tico Fernandez (SFU), 6-2, 6-3


MEN'S OPEN SINGLES C
Round of 16
Ismail (YSU) def. Korus (SFU), 7-6 (5), 6-2
Pagan (SHU) def. Gervais (SFU), 7-6 (5), 1-6, 10-4


MEN'S OPEN SINGLES F
Round of 16
Avuski (SFU) def. Prezant (Monmouth), 6-1, 6-2
Bogdanovich (SHU) def. Pardo (SFU), 6-1, 1-6, 10-7

Quarterfinals
Avuski (SFU) def. Bagi (Bucknell), 6-2, 6-3

Semifinals
Avuski (SFU) def. Bernstein (Bucknell), 6-3, 6-4

Finals
Lieb (Bucknell) def. Avuski (SFU), 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4