PHILADELPHIA  – Freshman De'Sean Fennell notched a come-from-behind win over Saint Joseph's Jeff Kessler at No. 2 singles as the La Salle tennis team fell to the Hawks, 6-1, during Wednesday afternoon competition between two Atlantic 10 teams at the La Salle Tennis Courts.

“De'Sean played a heck of a match,” assistant coach Ed Colfer, Sr. said. “He was ahead in the first set, but after losing, he stormed back in the second set and the tiebreak.”

Fennell came close to topping Kessler in the first set before Kessler took it to a tiebreak, winning 7-5.  Fennell composed himself and took down Kessler 6-2 in the second set.  In the tiebreaker, Fennell played strong and defeated Kessler 10-7.

Junior Trevor Donovan also played a strong match at No. 4 singles.  After losing 6-3 in the first set to the Hawks' Max Montague, Donovan down him 6-0 in the second set.  However, Montague came out on top, 10-7 in the tiebreaker.

La Salle will make a short trip on Thursday afternoon to play Chestnut Hill in Norristown.  The match is set to begin at 3:00 p.m.

Saint Joseph's 6, La Salle 1
Singles
1. Alex Veronis (SJU) def. Chas Berenato (LAS) 6-1, 6-1  
2. De'Sean Fennell (LAS) def. Jeff Kessler (SJU) 5-7, 6-2, 10-7
3. Dan Barrus (SJU) def. Joseph LaBate (LAS) 3-2, retired
4. Max Montague (SJU) def. Trevor Donovan (LAS) 6-3, 0-6, 10-7
5. Erik Thunberg (SJU) def. Dale Fetterman (LAS) 6-2, 6-3
6. Peirre Brondeau (SJU) def. Robert Kasinow  6-1, 6-0

Doubles
1. Thungerg/Brondeau (SJU) def. Hunter Selman/Fetterman, 8-2
2. Veronis/Kessler (SJU) def. Berenato/Fennell (LAS) 8-0
3. Barrus/Montague (SJU) def. LaBate/Donovan (LAS)  7-6 (7-0)