OLEAN, NY – The Alfred University men's tennis team put up a spirited effort against Division I St. Bonaventure University, falling by a 7-0 score in inter-divisional action at the St. Bonaventure Fitness Center Wednesday evening.
Alfred drops to 0-2 on the young season, while St. Bonaventure improves to 4-5.
The Saxons put up a fight despite the difference in division, especially in the bottom of the lineup. At sixth singles, sophomore
Wes Dennison (Almond, NY/Alfred-Almond) battled in the first set of his match against Filip Morawski. Morawski was able to prevail with a 7-5 set win, eventually taking the match in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1. First year
Isaac Little (Alfred, NY/Alfred-Almond) also put up a first-set fight, taking four games against Joseph Blakeley at third singles. Blakeley would take the match by a 6-4. 6-1 score. First year
Sam Cohen (Brighton, NY/Brighton) was shut out in his first set at fifth singles against Ethan Nguyen, but earned four games in the second set of a 6-0, 6-4 loss. In fourth singles, senior
Adam Shearer (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) took a game in each set of a 6-1, 6-1 loss to Jonni Keikkila. At the top spot, senior
Logan Cross (Olean, NY/Olean) fell to Stijn Paardekooper, 6-0, 6-1. Fellow senior
Ryan Brown (Olean, NY/Olean) also playing in his hometown, fell to Paolo Flores in straight sets by a 6-0, 6-0 score.
The Bonnies took all three doubles matches to earn the team doubles point. Brown and Cross put up the biggest fight, earning two points in a 6-2 loss to Martin Estevarena and Norka Sanchez at No. 1. The teams of Little and Shearer as well as Cohen and Dennison both fell by 6-1 scores at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively.
"Today we had the opportunity to play against a level of talent that we ordinarily wouldn't get to play," said head coach
Jordan Crouch. "We knew SBU would be a tough matchup for us but we had some fantastic points and really set us up well for the future!"
The Saxons will return to Division III play in their next match, beginning Empire 8 action with a trip to Nazareth College Saturday for a 1 p.m. start.
