For Immediate Release: February 1, 2004
Contact: John Hartrick
Phone: 607-777-6800

Bearcats open spring season at Army Invitational

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Binghamton men's tennis opened its spring season at the non-scoring Army Invitational, a separate singles and doubles format featuring UConn, St. Joseph's and fellow America East member Stony Brook.

Against Army, the Bearcats split six singles matches, earning wins at the No 1, 3 and 6 spots. Freshman Dan Hanegby (Herzeliya, Israel) posted a 6-4, 6-7, 1-0 (10-4) victory over John Sabia, who was ranked 17th in the Northeast after the fall season - two spots ahead of Hanegby. Sophomore Brian O'Connor (New Rochelle, N.Y.) earned a 6-3, 7-6 win up a spot at No. 3, and junior Juan Garcia (Lima, Peru) picked up a 6-0, 6-1 win at the sixth position.

Binghamton won four of six singles matches against UConn, with Hanegby, O'Connor and Garcia winning again. Hanegby scored a 6-0, 6-3 win over Matt Stinson, O'Connor rolled to a 6-2, 6-2 victory, and Garcia earned a 7-5, 6-4 up a spot at No. 5 singles. Sophomore Richemn Mourad (Sao Paulo, Brazil) scored the other victory - a 6-0, 6-1 win over Andy Sweatt at No. 2.

Against St. Joe's, BU won four of the six singles matches but lost two of the three doubles contests. Hanegby, Mourad, O'Connor and Garcia earned the singles wins, and Hanegby and senior Steve Spencer (Plantation, Fla.) teamed for an 8-1 win at the top doubles spot.

The team's enounter with conference rival Stony Brook served as an early-season barometer between the two teams, which competed for the 2003 America East Championship last spring. In that title match, BU edged the Seawolves, 4-3, to advance to the NCAA Championship. At Army, Stony Brook held the upper hand with four singles wins and two doubles triumphs. O'Connor posted a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 4 singles, and Garcia rallied for a 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 win at No. 5. O'Connor also paired with junior Krishna Vallabhaneni (Lagrangeville, N.Y.) for an 8-2 win at No. 3 doubles.

The Bearcats return to action with duals against Western New York schools Niagara, Buffalo and St. Bonaventure on February 7-8.