March 6, 2006

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Lafayette earned a 5-1 victory over Fairfield, then dropped a 5-2 decision at Quinnipiac in weekend men's tennis action.

The Leopards faced Fairfield on Saturday at Yale's indoor facility with six singles points available, as the doubles matches were not played. Andrew Mott fell 6-2, 6-3 at No. 1, but Lafayette prevailed in each of the final five matches. Brett Warren and Brett Kraft were both pushed to a third-set tiebreaker after dropping the opening set. Warren came away with a 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6) victory at No. 2, and Kraft emerged as a 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-6) winner at No. 5.

Paul Garino won 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 at third singles and Peter Titus earned a 6-4, 7-5 win in the fourth slot. Lee Kojanis won an eight-game pro set, 8-4, at No. 6.

Lafayette was a handful of points away from a victory on Sunday at Quinnipiac. The doubles point hinged on a tiebreaker at No. 2, with Stefano Salvatore and Jon Russo outlasting Warren and Kraft for a 9-8 (7-3) victory. The Bobcats won 8-4 at first doubles, while Titus and Jeremy Fehrs won 8-4 at No. 3 for the Leopards.

In singles play, Guarino defeated Salvatore 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-2) at No. 3, and Kojanis won 7-6 (7-3), 6-4) at No. 6. Titus fell in a pair of tiebreakers, 8-6 to close the first set and 7-5 to end the match, against Russo at third singles. Quinnipiac won the first, second and fifth singles matches in straight sets.

Next up, Lafayette will play at Delaware on Sunday, March 12 at 11 a.m.

Saturday, March 4 vs. Fairfield - W, 5-1

Singles
1. Jon Fernando (F) d. Andrew Mott (L), 6-2, 6-3
2. Brett Warren (L) d. Steve Koleri (F), 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6)
3. Paul Guarino (L) d. Chip Palumbo (F), 7-6 (8-6), 6-2
4. Peter Titus (L) d. Zack Morrison (F), 6-4, 7-5
5. Brett Kraft (L) d. Balazs Szikla (F), 5-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-6)
6. Lee Kojanis (L) d. Glen Gannon (F), 8-4

Doubles
1. Andrew Chan and Michael Racioppo (Q) d. Andrew Mott and Paul Guarino (L), 8-4
2. Stefano Salvatore and Jon Russo (Q) d. Brett Warren and Brett Kraft (L), 9-8 (7-3)
3. Peter Titus and Jeremy Fehrs (L) d. Tom Curran and Joe Nuara (Q), 8-4

Singles
1. Chan (Q) d. Mott (L), 6-1, 6-4
2. Racioppo (Q) d. Warren (L), 6-3
3. Guarino (L) d. Salvatore (Q), 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-2)
4. Russo (Q) d. Titus (L), 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5)
5. Goldy Sherrill (Q) d. Kraft (L), 6-1, 6-2
6. Lee Kojanis (L) d. Greg Kreyman (Q), 7-6 (7-3), 6-4