March 30, 2008

Mason men's tennis won both matches this weekend despite Loyola's challenge and cold temperatures today. The Patriots Brian Fitzgerald, Dan Schneider, and Stas Budagov went 2-0 in singles and doubles action at the Robinson Tennis Courts on campus. Mason won the doubles point and the top three singles matches for the 4-3 win.

Schneider went up 4-1 in the first set of his singles match, but lost the set, 6-4, after a rally from Loyola's No.3 singles player. It almost looked as this same feat was going to be accomplished again as Schneider went up 4-1, but then quickly dropped the next to games to bring the score 4-3. Schneider managed to pull the second set out as he hung in there taking it 6-4. In the third set Schneider took control of the match by going up by 5 games after 5 games, but lost the next three games to bring the score to 5-3. Just as Schneider had done in the second set, he dug up some great shots to take the next game and with it the match. This was the decisive win giving the Patriots their fourth point of the day and the victory.

Fitzgerald and Budagov played at the No.1 and No.2 spots and both came out 2-0 on the day as well. Fitzgerald made quick work of his opponent, but Budagov did it faster. Budagov took his first set 6-3 with minimal resistance. Budagov put the ball where ever he wanted and took the second set easily 6-0.

Fitzgerald and Schneider won the top doubles match 8-3 and moved 10-9 on the season, 7-7 in the spring. Both Fitzgerald and Schneider came out misplacing balls leading to points for their opponents, but quickly regained their form and good teamwork taking the match 8-3.

Budagov and Hoskins played at the No.3 doubles, but played the most pivotal doubles match of the day, being they were the last ones to win in doubles action securing the doubles point for Mason and the first point of the day. After trading the lead back and forth in the first five games, Budagov and Hoskins took the next four games to bring the score to a 6-3 lead and would not lose the lead for the rest of the match, winning 8-6.

The Patriots look to extend its two-match win streak at home against Shepherd at 3 pm on April 2nd.

Doubles
No.1 - Fitzgerald/Schneider (MAS) def. Gannon/Epstein (LU) 8-3
No.2 - McDaniel/Koch (LU) def. Lipstock/Vaughn (MAS) 8-3
No.3 - Budagov/Hoskins (MAS) def. Alban/D'Agostino (LU) 8-6
Singles
No.1 - Brian Fitzgerald (MAS) def. Gannon (LU) 6-3, 6-2
No.2 - Stas Budagov (MAS) def. Epstein (LU) 6-1, 6-0
No.3 - Dan Schneider (MAS) def. McDaniel (LU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
No.4 - Koch (LU) def. Harwood Hoskins (MAS) 7-5, 7-5
No.5 - Alban (LU) def. Jordan Lipstock (MAS) 6-4, 6-4
No.6 - D'Agostino (LU) def. Martin Brown (MAS) 6-2, 6-4