March 26, 2011

PHILADELPHIA - The men’s tennis team took down Fordham, 4-3, on Saturday afternoon on the La Salle tennis courts.

With the Explorers and Rams tied at 3-all, Fernando Tovia and Kevin Maloney of Fordham were locked in their own battle in the third set of the No. 2 singles match.

After Tovia dropped the first set, 4-6, he rallied back to win the second, 6-3 and worked to a 3-3 tie with Maloney in the third set.

Tovia held serve to push the game to 4-3 in his favor.  Maloney registered two double faults as Tovia broke his serve and then held on for a 6-3 set victory, winning the match for La Salle.

“This was a good match for Fernando,” head coach Ed Colfer said. “He’s been struggling to find his game this season and he put it together today. We’re looking to carry the momentum to our match against Chestnut Hill next week.”

Joseph LaBate also picked up a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 win at No. 5 singles, while Trevor Donovan also gave the Explorers a point with a 6-4, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles.

La Salle started the match off well after taking the doubles point after an 8-2 win by Tovia and Chas Berenato at the No. 1 position and an 8-4 victory by Mikel Kosich and Hunter Selman at No. 3.

Donovan and LaBate dropped the No. 2 doubles competition to Fordham, 8-5.

The win puts La Salle at 1-1 in the Atlantic 10 for the spring season.

The Explorers will travel to face Chestnut Hill on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.

Singles

1. Andry Kulak (FOR) def. Mikel Kosich (LAS), 6-2, 6-2
2. Fernando Tovia (LAS) def. Kevin Maloney (FOR), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. Ken Fukomoto (FOR) def. Chas Berenato (LAS), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. Joseph LaBate (LAS) def. Dan Kane West (FOR), 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
5. Trevor Donovan (LAS) def. Andry Kulak (FOR), 6-4, 6-0
6. Eli Planggar (FOR) def. Hunter Selman (LAS), 7-6, 6-3

Doubles
1. Tovia/Berenato (LAS) def. Nick Kelly/Fukomoto (FOR), 8-2
2. Kulak/Planggar (FOR) def. Donovan/LaBate (LAS), 8-5
3. Kosich/Selman (LAS) def. Austin Shoup/Kane West (FOR), 8-4