Men's Tennis Bests Fairfield, 5-2

STORRS, Conn. (March 26, 2008) - The University of Connecticut men's tennis team defeated in-state rival Fairfield, 5-2, Wednesday afternoon at the UConn Tennis Courts. The Huskies are now 8-5 on the year (4-5 in the spring season).

Christian Malerba (Derby, Conn.) led the Huskies by winning his fourth-straight singles match, defeating Mark Kremheller, 6-0, 6-2 in flight five. He also partnered with Joey Michaels (Rochester Hills, N.Y.) to win the no. 2 doubles contest 8-6.

"The team showed a lot of toughness today to win this match," said Director of Tennis Glenn Marshall. "We lost to Fairfield the last two years by the score of 4-3 and it felt great to come out on the other side. Our strong play over the last three matches really helped us when things got close. I am extremely pleased with the way our team was confident and focused throughout the day."

Joe Goldstein (Tucson, Ariz.) and Ben Schueler (Arlington, Mass.) won each of their singles matches in flights one and two, respectively, in three hard-fought sets. Goldstein knocked off Ryan Berthod, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6, while Schueler defeated George Laffey, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

In flight six singles, Tom Cook (Pittsford, N.Y.) bested Chris Piasecki, 6-0, 6-2. He, too, was a double winner by taking his doubles match with Andrew Marcus (Potomac, Md.), 8-4.

The men's tennis team returns to action Saturday, Mar. 29, at St. John's.
 

SINGLES

1 Joe Goldstein (UC) def. Ryan Berthod (FU): 6-3, 4-6, 7-6
2 Ben Schueler (UC) def. George Laffey (FU): 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
3 Glen Gannon (FU) def. Joey Michaels (UC): 6-3, 7-6
4 Balazs Szikla (FU) def. Andrew Marcus (UC): 4-6, 6-2, 7-6
5 Christian Malerba (UC) def. Mark Kremheller (FU): 6-0, 6-2
6 Tom Cook (UC) def. Chris Piasecki (FU): 6-0, 6-2
 

DOUBLES
1 Berthod/Ferrante (FU) def. Goldstein/Schueler (UC): 8-5
2 Michaels/Malerba (UC) def. Gannon/Szikla (FU): 8-6
3 Cook/Marcus (UC) def. Laffey/Kremheller (FU): 8-4