April 9, 2007

Baltimore, Md. - The Loyola men's and women's tennis teams earned a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference sweep of Rider at the Butler Courts on Monday afternoon. The men captured a 4-3 win over the Broncs, while the women earned a 5-2 win on a chilly afternoon in Baltimore.

Junior Rob Palliser clinched the victory for the men's squad with his win at No. 4 singles. With the two teams knotted at 3-3, Palliser was knotted at 3-3 in his second set. The junior went on to win 6-4, giving Loyola its fourth point of the afternoon.

The men dropped the doubles point, but did pick up a double win with junior Chad Morrow and freshman Matt McDaniel winning 8-3 at No. 3. McDaniel followed with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles to the get the `Hounds on the scorecard. Freshmen Tim Koch and Peter Edgar picked up straight set victories at No. 5 and No. 6 singles to leave it up to Palliser - who won 6-2, 6-4.

In women's action, the Greyhounds won the doubles point with freshmen Kerri Swan and Lauren Cassle taking No. 2, 8-6, and junior co-captains Meaghan McKenna and Mallory Tarca winning 8-3 at No. 3.

The women dropped Nos. 1 and 2 singles, but won in straight sets at Nos. 5 and 6 with McKenna earning a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 5 and Tarca earning a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 6. The `Hounds clinched the match, and the sweep, with Cassle at No. 4 singles. After dropping the first set, 2-6, Cassle won her second set, 6-0. Knotted at 3-3 in the third, Cassle won the last three points to earn a 6-3 match winner in the third set.

Freshman Stephanie Dunn capped off the day with a big comeback at No. 3 singles. Dunn dropped her first set 4-6, and won a grueling 7-5 second set to force a super tiebreaker. Winning the last five points, Dunn won 10-5 to give the Greyhounds five points.

The men are now 7-5 overall and play a make-up match with LaSalle tomorrow at 3 p.m. The women improve to 8-4 overall and return to action on Thursday afternoon.