Feb. 13, 2011

Hamden, Conn. - The Fordham men's tennis team was back in action on Sunday afternoon in Hamden, Connecticut, as they took on the Quinnipiac Bobcats. A hard fought match saw the Rams fall short to the Bobcats, despite four matches featuring tie-breakers and one match going three sets.

"I thought our team played very well given the conditions of the courts. This match was actually a lot closer, as we had some chances to win the doubles point and then lost three different tiebreakers in singles. If we can convert those opportunities in the tiebreakers, then this match goes the distance and puts the pressure on them. Our guys improving on the court, but they don't understand about closing out and taking the momentum. We have to learn how to win, and hopefully we can take confidence from this match and learn from it," said head coach Cory Hubbard.

Quinnipiac opened with the doubles point, earning victories at first and second doubles. Fordham did pull out the third doubles match as Dan Kane-West and Alex DeRienzo defeated Chris Nelson and Dillon Kraus by an 8-7 (7-5) score.

In singles action, the Bobcats were pushed to the limit by the Rams. At sixth singles, Eli Plangger won the opening set (7-5) over Brett Francis, but Francis would come back to win the match, 6-3 and 10-7 in a super tie-breaker.

Austin Shoup (2nd) , Kane-West (4th) and Kevin Maloney (5th) each pushed a set to a tie-breaker, but in each case the Quinnipiac player pulled out the tie-breaker win, and later capture the match win in straight sets.

The Fordham men's tennis team will next be in action on Wednesday, February 16th, when the team travels to the University of Pennsylvania for a 3:00 PM match

Quinnipiac vs. Fordham
February 13, 2011

Singles
1. Andrew Weeden (QU) def. Alex DeRienzo (F), 6-4, 6-2
2. Chris Nelson (QU) def. Austin Shoup (F), 7-6 (7-3), 6-1
3. Alex Lazerowich (QU) def. Ken Fukumoto (F), 6-4, 6-4
4. Corey Morgenstern (QU) def. Dan Kane-West (F), 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Ben Shapiro (QU) def. Kevin Maloney (F), 6-2, 7-6 (7-1)
6. Brett Francis (QU) def. Eli Plangger (F), 5-7, 6-3, 10-7

Doubles
1. Brian Mikkelson/Weeden (QU) def. Shoup/Fukumoto (F), 8-2
2. James Kwei/Lazerowich (QU) def. Plangger/ Nick Kelly (F), 8-6
3. Kane-West/DeRienzo (F) def. Nelson/Dillon Kraus (QU), 8-7 (7-5)