March 21, 2009

Baltimore, Md. - The Loyola men's team earned a 5-2 victory over La Salle on Saturday afternoon, while the women's team shut out the Explorers, 7-0 in play at Loyola College.

"This is a great win for the men's team," Head Coach Rick McClure said after the match. "Our guys have lost to La Salle in close 4-3 matches in two of our last three seasons."

The Greyhound men, who lost to the Explorers in a close 4-3 match last year, picked up the 5-2 victory starting with a sweep in doubles play.

Freshmen Keyan Sanai and J. Pierce Norton won 8-4 at No. 1 doubles, followed by another 8-4 win from freshman Kevin Zingler and junior Matt McDaniel at No. 2 doubles. Sophomores Dan D'Agostino and Jamie Russo picked up the final doubles win at the No. 3 spot at 8-3.

In singles action, Norton won 6-1, 6-4 at No. 2 singles, McDaniel won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 4 and D'Agostino won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 5. Russo played a 6-1, 7-6 match No. 6 singles, the last set score coming from the 7-2 tiebreaker win.

Sanai lost 6-3 and 7-6 at No. 1 singles, falling in the second set after a 7-5 tiebreaker loss. Zingler lost at No. 3 singles after playing in a three-set match. He won the first set 6-3, but fell in the second 6-3, to force the third set, in which he lost 6-4.

Loyola women also swept the doubles point, starting with No. 1 doubles team freshman Rachel Janasek and junior Kerri Swan and their 8-0 victory. Sophomores Andie Keyser-Baker and Joy Johnson chipped in another 8-0 win at No. 2, as did sophomore Lane Maloney and freshman Jackie Lioneta at No. 3.

In singles action, Janasek won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1, Keyser-Baker won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2 and Swan won 6-2, 6-1 at No. 3 singles. The Hounds continued to pull wins from Johnson at No. 4 (6-1, 6-0), freshman Judy Lite at No. 5 (6-0, 6-0) and junior Stephanie Dunn at No. 6 (6-0, 6-0).

Both teams travel to Niagara on Sunday for the first conference match of the season, starting at 11:00 a.m.