Camden, NJ | After a hairy start to the day, the College of Staten Island men’s tennis team saw all things end well, as they soared to a 7-2 win over Rutgers-Camden as part of non-conference play on the Camden Courts this afternoon. CSI won for the sixth-straight time, improving to 6-1 overall while the Scarlet Raptors fell to 1-5.
On the way to Rutgers-Camden today, the Dolphins had a transportation issue that set them back quite a stretch, but when they reached the courts after a very long commute to Rutgers, they did not waver and stayed strong throughout for the big, non-conference, win.
Play started with Doubles and that has been a big strength this year for the Dolphins and they showed why. CSI was able to sweep Doubles, taking a commanding, 3-0, lead heading into Singles play. In the top spot, after missing yesterday’s contest, Ivi Selenica was up to the task with teammate Alex Tsui, scoring several impressive winners to tae the win ovr Zhang and Patel, 8-2.
The No. 3 Doubles team of Raymond Hwang and Lesly DeCastro were winners by the same score, but things were a little tougher at No. 2. There, the team of Matthew Vesci and Tao Lin were locked in a war with Khan and Flores. After several back-and-forth parries, CSI was able to pull away late to take an 8-6 win, clinching the sweep and lots of momentum going into Singles.
It paid off handsomely as CSI was able to win four Singles flights, three by straight sets. Selenica sailed over Deak in the top spot, 6-3, 6-0, while two flights lower, Hwang disposed of Zhang quickly, 6-1, 6-1. Tsui was also efficient, scoring a 6-0, 6-1, winner over Patel. DeCastro at No. 5 got CSI’s other win, taking his flight in longer fashion, 6-1, 5-7, 10-4. Vesci, at No. 2, suffered a hard-fought loss, falling to Cardoza, 6-3, 0-6, 10-8. RU got another win from Khan in the No. 6 flight over CSI’s Matthew Kotlyar, 6-4, 6-3.
Now riding a six-game streak, CSi will next travel to FDU-Florham on Friday, April 12, with match time scheduled for 3:30pm.
