PHILADELPHIA, PA - The La Salle men's tennis team picked up a huge win Monday as they outlasted the Loyola Greyhounds 4-3 in a five-hour marathon match. Freshman Andy Petrusky providing the late heroics to give the Explorers the decisive 4-3 win.
Early on, the match went back and forth. In doubles, the La Salle duo of George Gennaoui and Jon Maula gave the Explorers a win at #1, 8-3. At #3, Matt Rivera and Christian Harvey lost to the Loyola contingent of Doug Alban and Dan D'Agostino, 8-1. The doubles point was decided at #2, as the Explorer duo of Ryan Knarr and Andy Petrusky dropped the match in a heartbreaker, 9-7, giving the point to Loyola.
In singles, the Explorers came out swinging, dominating the Greyhounds throughout the evening. At #6, Chris Butera won a tight match over Dan D'Agostino, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, while George Gennaoui provided a clean 7-5, 6-4 win at #1 singles to give the Explorers the 2-1 lead. Soon after, Eric Glick finished off Tim Koch at #4 singles, 6-3, 6-2 to bring the Explorers lead to 3-1. At #3, sophomore Ryan Knarr battled with Matt McDaniel tooth and nail, but was downed 6-1, 6-3, as Loyola began their comeback.
The Greyhounds were able to tie the match at 3-3 when Doug Alban downed La Salle's Jon Maula, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. This set the stage for Petrusky and Loyola senior captain Ben Epstein to battle it out in the decisive match.
Petrusky won the first set 7-6 (7-4) and had a match point in the second set tiebreaker before Epstein clawed his way back to capture the second set in another tie-breaker 6-7 (6-8). In the third set, Petrusky trailed early but was able to get back on serve at 5-5. Petrusky brought his best serves in the next game. He capped off the game with a monster ace down the center line, followed by a fist pump that brought the La Salle supporters to their feet. Epstein was not to be denied however, holding serve himself to send the match to a third set tiebreaker.
In the tiebreaker, Petrusky looked good early, getting off to a 3-0 lead. Epstein fought back to 3-2 before Petrusky hit two double faults to give Epstein a 4-3 lead. Epstein hit two quality approach shots and capitalized on both to give Loyola three match points at 6-3. But on this night, Petrusky was not giving up. He blasted two huge second serves and played smart to get back to 5-6 before getting a min-break on Epstein to go up 7-6. Petrusky once again double faulted to level the score at 7-7, then crushed a forehand on the next point to give him a third match point. Epstein made one last push, leveling the match with a clutch volley to bring the score to 8-8. Petrusky blasted a first serve out-wide to give him a fourth and deciding match point. With Epstein serving, Petrusky anticipated his approach to the net and blasted a forehand low to the Loyola senior's feet. Epstein netted the volley giving Petrusky and the Explorers a humongous 4-3 victory in a classic 5 hour marathon match that will be remembered for some time.
La Salle returns to action Saturday March 29, 2008 at New Jersey Tech.
Box Score
La Salle University 4 Loyola University 3
Doubles:
George Gennaoui/ Jon Maula (LSU) def. Scott Gannon/Ben Epstein 8-3
Matt McDaniel/Tim Koch (LU) def. Ryan Knarr/ Andy Petrusky 9-7
Doug Alban/Dan D'Agostino (LU) def. Christian Harvey/Matt Rivera 8-1
Singles:
George Gennaoui (LSU) def. Scott Gannon 7-5 6-4
Andy Petrusky (LSU) def. Ben Epstein 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (10-8)
Matt McDanial (LU) def. Ryan Knarr 6-1 6-3
Eric Glick (LSU) def. Tim Koch 6-3 6-2
Doug Alban (LU) def. Jonathan Maula 7-6 (7-5) 6-4
Chris Butera (LSU) def. Dan D'Agostino 7-6 (7-1) 6-3
