By Chris Spiker
Staff Writer
The tennis teams captured their first Atlantic 10 conference wins at La Salle friday, with the men winning, 6-1, and the women prevailing 4-3
The men (5-11, 1-3) dropped two road matches, losing to Fordham, 4-3, last Thursday and St. Joseph’s, 5-2, Saturday. The women (3-13, 1-3) also lost at St. Joseph’s Saturday, falling 6-1.
The women travel to Pittsburgh today, challenging Atlantic 10 rival Duquesne at 2:30 p.m. The men play at Little Three rival Niagara Sunday at 1 p.m. while the women host the Purple Eagles Monday, with matches starting at 2 p.m.
Head coach Michael Bates said Duquesne will provide strong in-conference competition in the women’s preparation for the A-10 championships April 18-21.
“They’re always one of the top teams in the conference,” Bates said.
Niagara’s men (11-6) host the Bonnies riding a seven-match winning streak. Junior Olivier Dufour-Coursol leads the Purple Eagles in singles at 14-3 and in first doubles, with sophomore David Raymond at 9-4.
Niagara’s women travel to Olean with a four-match win streak. Freshman Sarah Hellstern leads the Purple Eagles in singles at 13-1. Senior Hilary Hansen and sophomore Maria Ortiz lead in first doubles at 11-2.
Bates said the Niagara matches provide different matchups for the Bonnies before A-10 championships.
“We want another quality match before A-10s,” Bates said.
Senior Luis Guevara and junior Javier Ortiz led the Bonnies against Fordham, each winning a singles and doubles match. Guevara won in third singles, 6-3, 7-5, and teamed up with senior Oscar Yanez for an 8-5 first doubles victory. Ortiz prevailed in fourth singles, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 and joined junior Elliot Fanshel for an 8-5 second doubles win. Sophomore Trevor Haskell and freshman Gabriel Cardenas added an 8-5 third doubles victory. The La Salle match was the Bonnies’ first outdoor match this spring season.
“It was good to get a win outside and get used to the conditions,” Bates said.
Fanshel swept first singles, 6-0, 6-0, and joined Ortiz for an 8-2 second doubles victory. Ortiz won in fourth singles, 6-4, 6-7, 7-5.
Yanez won in second singles, 6-4, 6-2, and Guevara won in third singles, 6-1, 6-4. The senior duo united for an 8-6 first doubles win.
Haskell triumphed in sixth singles, 6-4, 7-5, and completed a sweep of doubles matches with Cardenas, winning 8-4 in third doubles.
Fanshel led the Bonnies against St. Joseph’s (6-7, 2-2), winning in first singles, 6-4, 1-6, 10-5, and joining Ortiz for a second doubles victory, 9-8 (5). After returning to the top spot in the singles lineup, Bates said Fanshel regained his confidence, winning four of six matches last weekend.
“He’s got the big serve, which gets him out of trouble when he needs it to,” Bates said.
Guevara and Yanez added an 8-5 first doubles victory, adding to Bona’s 8-1 doubles record last weekend.
The women overcame two injury forfeits to defeat La Salle, snapping a 10-match losing streak. Bates said the women understand their roles in a smaller lineup.
“Everyone knows they have to step up,” Bates said. “They can’t rely on somebody else because we don’t have that extra person.”
Sophomore Fatya Amiri, sophomore Marissa Brossard and senior Kathryn Kvas each won a singles and doubles match. Amiri won in first singles, 6-0, 6-1, and teamed up with her classmate, Brossard, for an 8-0 shutout in first singles. Brossard won in second singles, 6-0, 3-0 after her opponent retired in the second set due to injury.
Kvas triumphed in third singles, 6-3, 6-0 and joined senior Riley Archer, winning 8-5 in second doubles.
Kvas won the only match for the Bonnies at St. Joseph’s, prevailing in third singles, 6-4, 3-6 (10-4). Brossard forced a third-set tiebreaker before falling in second singles, 7-5, 0-6 (10-8). Bates said Kvas plays as a quiet leader with consistency.
“She’s a senior and wants to go out on a good note,” Bates said.
