For Immediate Release: February 25, 2005
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Binghamton men's tennis knocks off St. Bonaventure 5-2
Bearcats win third straight match, improve to 8-3 overall

OLEAN, N.Y. - The Binghamton men's tennis team (8-3) swept the doubles matches and used its team depth to win four of six singles contests en route to a 5-2 win over host St. Bonaventure (7-9) Friday afternoon at the SBU Fitness Center. The victory over a respected regional foe was BU's third straight.

"We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to win today and and the team responded," head coach Michael Starke said. "We wish they had their full lineup (St. Bonaventure was missing their No. 5 singles player), because it would've been a great match and because we want to toughen up. But everyone contributed to the win - it was a good team effort."

The Bearcats rolled to the doubles point before facing some rare adversity at the top two singles spots. Sophomore No. 1 Dan Hanegby (Herzliya, Israel) was defeated by the region's No. 8 player, Mario Arce, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 - just his second dual match defeat of the year. Hanegby is 18-5 overall.

"This was the best player Dan's played in duals all year," Starke said. "Arce played an outstanding match. It was two good players going at it and on this day, Arce was a little better."

Binghamton also lost at No. 2 singles, but wrapped up wins at the four remaining positions, including another decisive win from freshman No. 3 Alex Dobrin (Flushing). Dobrin raised his record to 14-4 overall, 9-2 in duals, with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Nikhil Murali.

"Alex was the hero," Starke said. "When our matches at No. 1 and 2 were looking tight, he got off the court quick and gave the team confidence. He played so solid. It was the most consistent he's played from the beginning to the end all year, with great retrieving and passing shots. He's just a ferocious competitor."

Junior Edwin Gerard (Bayside, N.Y.) moved up to No. 4 and battled back from a set down to win, 6-7 (11-9), 6-3, 6-1.

The Bearcats will stay in Olean to face Dayton Saturday morning.

DOUBLES
1. Hanegby/O'Connor (BU) def. Arce/Murali (SB), 9-8 (7-4)
2. Dobrin/Mohamed (BU) def. Hart/Nery (SB), 8-4
3. Mourad/Gerard (BU) def. Qureshi/Sarias (SB), 8-0

SINGLES
1. Mario Arce (SB) def. Dan Hanegby (BU), 7-5, 3-6, 6-2
2. Alejandro Nery (SB) def. Richemn Mourad (BU), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
3. Alex Dobrin (BU) def. Nikhil Murali (SB), 6-3, 6-1
4. Edwin Gerard (BU) def. Andrew Hart (SB), 6-7 (11-9), 6-3, 6-1
5. Faisal Mohamed (BU) def. Sajeel Qureshi (SB), 6-2, 6-1
6. Brian O'Connor (BU) def. Antonio Sarias, 6-2, 6-0