March 14, 2009

Dover, Del. - Loyola men's and women's tennis teams lost to Delaware State on Friday afternoon at the Colonial Tennis Center in Dover, Del. The women's team fell in a close 4-3 match, while the men lost 5-2.

The Greyhound women won the doubles point after wins from No. 1 and No. 3. Freshman Rachel Janasek and junior Kerri Swan came back from a 7-5 deficit to win four games in a row for the final 9-7 victory at the number one spot. Juniors Stephanie Dunn and Caitlyn Day won 8-3 in the third doubles match, to clinch the doubles point for the Hounds.

In singles play, Loyola won only two of the six matches in a hard fought afternoon.

"It came down to the final set in the final match," Head Coach Rick McClure commented after the match.

Freshmen Janasek and Judy Lite won in straight-set matches at No. 1 and No. 6 singles, but Loyola fell at the No. 2-4 singles' positions. Sophomore Joy Johnson survived two close sets at the No. 5 spot, before falling in the tie-breaker, 6-1, giving the Hornets the final point for the win.

On the men's side, sophomores Dan D'Agostino and Jamie Russo had the only doubles victory (8-3) at the No. 3 spot. Both also were the only Greyhounds to win at singles, both taking the point in straight sets. D'Agostino won 6-4, 6-3 at No. 5 singles, and Russo won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 6 singles.

The Hounds now face St. Francis (N.Y.) at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday at Loyola. The 9:00 a.m. match versus Maryland Eastern Shore has been postponed to April.