Flash Points:

• SFU Men's Tennis picked up its fifth straight win with a 6-1 victory at Sacred Heart on Friday.
• The Red Flash improved to 11-3 overall, its best start in program history, and 3-0 in the NEC.
• SFU won the doubles point and five of six singles matches.

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Saint Francis Men's Tennis Team earned its fifth straight win with a 6-1 victory at Sacred Heart on Friday.  The Red Flash won the doubles point and five of six singles matches.  SFU extended its best start in program history to 11-3 overall and 3-0 in the NEC.  Sacred Heart dropped to 2-9 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
 
At No. 2 doubles, freshman Arturo Dell'eva (Verona, Italy/Sanchez Casal Tennis Academy) and sophomore Jan Vit Suntar (Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Slovenia/Gimnazija Kranj) met the Pioneers' Bryan Einstoss and Seiji Hosokowa.  The Red Flash duo earned a 6-4 win to improve to 5-2 this spring.  That win also clinched the doubles point for SFU.
 
In the match at No. 3, seniors Plamen Avuski (Plovdiv, Bulgaria /Math High School ) and Eli Cerdan (Bloomfield, N.J. /Saint Mary High School) competed against Sacred Heart's Francisco Del Valle Diaz and Matthew Surprenant.  The SFU pair claimed a 6-4 victory to move to 8-0 this season. 
 
Junior Alec Dylan Foo-Kune (Phoenix, Mauritius/International Connections Academy (Md.)) and senior Rodrigo Tico (Guadalajara, Mexico/Colegio de Bachilleres) combined at No. 1 against SHU's Derek Chapman and Cory Seltman.  In a tight set, Foo-Kune and Tico fell 7-6, including 8-6 in the tiebreaker.  They are now 7-4 in dual matches.
 
"We came out a little sluggish in doubles today," said Head Coach Rob Castille. "It is definitely something we'll try to do better next weekend as it has happened the last couple matches.  We'll need to be switched on from the very first point through the last."
 
Foo-Kune matched up against Sacred Heart's Seltman at the top singles spot.  The SFU senior took the first set, 6-3.  He completed the straight-set victory with a 6-2 second set.  Foo-Kune is now 10-4 this Spring.
 
Avuski faced SHU's Chapman at No. 3.  The Red Flash senior claimed the opening set, 6-3.  He dominated the second set, 6-0, to earn the sweep.  Avuski moved to 10-2 in dual matches.
 
At No. 4, Tico met the Pioneers' Einstoss.  In the opening set, Tico won 6-3.  However, Einstoss answered by winning a tough second set, 7-5.  In the deciding set, Tico came out on top, 10-6.  Tico improved to 6-5 this Spring.
 
In the match at No. 5, Suntar competed against SHU's Chris Sause.  The SFU sophomore took the first set, 6-2.  He repeated that performance in the next set to complete the straight-set victory.  Suntar is now 11-1 this season.
 
Cerdan took on the Pioneers' Omar Abdo at No. 6.  The Red Flash senior won the first set, 6-2.  He bettered that effort in the second set, winning 6-1.  Cerdan improved to 7-3 in dual matches.
 
Dell'eva matched up against Sacred Heart's Hosokowa at No. 2.  The Red Flash rookie fell 7-6 in the first set, including 7-4 in the tiebreaker.  Dell'eva bounced back to win the next set, 6-2.  In a tough third set, Dell'eva dropped a 7-5 decision.  He is now 8-2 this Spring.
 
"Once against we played well in singles and never really let Sacred Heart into the match," said Castille. "We were able to find that extra gear in the big moments and I think it is a sign that we are maturing as a team. It feels good to get another conference win and we will continue to build on this. We'll use this upcoming week to fine tune some things in doubles and get ready for two quality opponents next weekend."
 
The Red Flash hosts two home matches next weekend.  SFU meets NEC foe Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday, April 1 at 5:30 p.m. at the Greensburg Racquet Club.  That match will also be Senior Day as SFU honors Avuski, Cerdan and Tico.  On Sunday, April 2, the Red Flash battles Duquesne at 1 p.m.
 
Doubles:
1. Chapman/Seltman(SHU) def. Foo-Kune/Tico(SFU), 7-6(6)
2. Dell'eva/Suntar(SFU) def. Einstoss/Hosokowa(SHU), 6-4
3. Avuski/Cerdan(SFU) def. Del Valle Diaz/Surprenant(SHU), 6-4
Order of Finish: 3,2,1
 
Singles:
1. Foo-Kune(SFU) def. Seltman(SHU), 6-3, 6-2
2. Hosokowa(SHU) def. Dell'eva(SFU), 7-6(4), 2-6, 7-5
3. Avuski(SFU) def. Chapman(SHU), 6-3, 6-0
4. Tico(SFU) def. Einstoss(SHU), 6-3, 5-7, 10-6
5. Suntar(SFU) def. Sause(SHU), 6-2, 6-2
6. Cerdan(SFU) def. Abdo(SHU), 6-2, 6-1
Order of Finish: 3,1,2,5,6,4