HARMAR, Pa. – The Saint Francis men's tennis team was edged out, 4-3, by Duquesne on Friday at Alpha Tennis and Fitness in Harmar, Pa.  The Red Flash dropped the doubles point, but won a doubles match and three singles matches.  SFU is now 8-5 this season.  Duquesne improved to 6-9 on the year.
 
Senior Washi Gervais (Longueuil, Quebec/College Stanislas) was honored on senior day and earned a singles win.

"This was a great day to celebrate the career of our senior, Washi," said Head Coach Rob Castille. "Washi has meant so much to this program and has really helped change the culture here. It would have been nice to come away with the win, but credit to Duquesne."
 
In the match at No. 3 doubles, junior Plamen Avuski (Plovdiv, Bulgaria /Math High School ) and freshman Jan Vit Suntar (Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Slovenia/Gimnazija Kranj) battled Tim Kane and Harry Walshe.  The Red Flash duo earned a tough 7-6 victory, including 7-3 in the tiebreaker.  They are now 10-3 this spring.
 
At the top doubles spot, sophomore Alec Dylan Foo-Kune (Phoenix, Mauritius/International Connections Academy (Md.)) and Washi Gervais (Longueuil, Quebec/College Stanislas) competed against Corey Robinson and Dimitris Stavropoulos.  The SFU pair dropped a 6-4 decision.  Foo-Kune and Gervais are now 10-3 this year.
 
Junior Rodrigo Tico (Guadalajara, Mexico/Colegio de Bachilleres) and freshman Robin van der Heijden (Burgh Haamstede, Netherlands/Scheldmond College) took on Adam Blasinsky and Chris Corrao.  However, Tico and van der Heijden fell 7-5.

"I knew the doubles point would be crucial and it ended up being the deciding factor," said Castille. "It's especially tough because we had a lead and a match point at No. 2 that would have given us the doubles point, but we'll take a lot of positives away from this match and get back at it next week as we prepare for Georgetown and our NEC opener at Mount St. Mary's."
 
Gervais matched up at No. 1 singles against the Dukes' Robinson.  The SFU senior won the first set, 6-3.  In a tight second set, Gervais came out on top, 7-6, including 7-2 in the tiebreaker.  He is now 10-3 this spring.
 
At No. 2, Foo-Kune battled Stavropoulos.  The Red Flash sophomore claimed the opening set, 6-3.  He closed out a straight-set victory with a 6-2 second set.  He is now 7-6 in dual matches.
 
Avuski competed at No. 4 against Duquesne's Drew Akins.  In an extremely tight first set, Avuski came out on top, 7-6, including 12-10 in the tiebreaker.  The two then battled through another tight set, with Avuski winning again, this time 7-6, with a 10-8 tiebreaker.  Avuski improved to 8-3 on the season.
 
At the third singles position, Suntar faced Blasinsky.  However, Suntar fell 6-3, 6-2 and is now 7-6 this spring.
 
At No. 5, Tico took on the Dukes' Walshe.  In straight-sets, Tico dropped a 6-0, 6-4 decision. 
 
Junior Eli Cerdan (Bloomfield, N.J. /Saint Mary High School) competed at the sixth spot against Corrao.  The SFU junior fell 6-1, 6-1.
 
The Red Flash travels to Georgetown on Saturday, April 2 for a 10 a.m. match.  SFU then opens conference play on Sunday, April 3 at Mount St. Mary's, beginning at 11 a.m.
 
Doubles:
1. Robinson/Stavropoulos(DUQ) def. Foo-Kune/Gervais(SFU), 6-4.
2. Blasinsky/Corrao(DUQ) def. Tico/van der Heijden(SFU), 7-5.
3. Avuski/Suntar(SFU) def. Kane/Walshe(DUQ), 7-6(3).
Order of Finish: 1,3,2
 
Singles:
1. Gervais(SFU) def. Robinson(DUQ), 6-3, 7-6(2).
2. Foo-Kune(SFU) def. Stavropoulos(DUQ), 6-3, 6-2.
3. Blasinsky(DUQ) def. Suntar(SFU), 6-3, 6-2.
4. Avuski(SFU) def. Akins(DUQ), 7-6(10), 7-6(8).
5. Walshe(DUQ) def. Tico(SFU), 6-0, 6-4.
6. Corrao(DUQ) def. Cerdan(SFU), 6-1, 6-1.
Order of Finish: 3,2,1,5,6,4