Feb 22, 2009

ERIE, Pa. - The Allegheny men's tennis team opened its spring season with an 8-1 win over John Carroll in non-conference action at the Westwood Racquet Club. The Gators swept doubles competition and won five of six singles matches.

At first doubles, Matt Chiricosta (Avon Lake, Ohio/St. Ignatius) and Ben Hurtuk (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls) combined to defeat James Steward and Matt Tomayko, 8-6, while Evan Gordon (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) and Jake Allmaras (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) won at second doubles over Chad Ruehs and Mike Finissi, 8-3.

In the third doubles match, Eric Roginek (Fresh Meadows, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) and Zack Kerosky (Ashtabula, Ohio/Lakeside) were victorious for the Gators, 8-2, against Ross Venzke and Mike Halseman.

Chiricosta, Gordon, Allmaras, Hurtuk and Roginek were winners in singles play. In first singles, Chiricosta defeated Steward, 6-1, 6-1, and Gordon defeated Tomayko, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, in the second singles match.

At fourth singles, Allmaras handled Finissi, 7-5, 6-3; Hurtuk won over Venzke in fifth singles, 6-4, 6-2; and Roginek won at sixth singles against Halseman, 6-4, 6-4.

The Gator men will be in action next when they travel to Hilton Head Island, S.C., for their spring break trip, which opens up on March 15. On consecutive days, the Gators will play Macalester, Nebraska Wesleyan, Nazareth and St. Lawrence.