April 7, 2007

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD -- The 21st-ranked Johns Hopkins men's tennis team picked up a Centennial Conference victory over Ursinus (9-0) in the morning and then an impressive non-conference victory over 26th-ranked Swarthmore (5-4) in the afternoon as the Blue Jays improved to 9-2 overall and 4-0 in the Centennial Conference on Saturday.

In a showdown of nationally-ranked teams, the Blue Jays jumped out to a 3-0 lead against Swarthmore by taking all three doubles matches, but the Garnet fought back to win the first four flights in singles. Joe Vasoontara dropped a tough 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 decision to Jonathan Lo at second singles, but David Maldow, Larry Wei and Dany Myers all fell in straight sets to put the outcome in the hands of Rafael Roberti and Vale in the final two singles spots.

Roberti responded with a resounding 6-0, 6-4 win over Kevin Shaughnessy in the number five spot and Vale picked up a hard-fought 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 win over J.J. England in the sixth spot to seal the win.

The victory is the first for Johns Hopkins against Swarthmore since 1963. Since then the Garnet had defeated the Blue Jays 23 straight times. A perennial national power, Swarthmore has made 29 NCAA Tournament appearances since 1977. The win is also the second in a week against a nationally-ranked opponent as Hopkins defeated ninth-ranked Mary Washington (5-4) on April 1.

The Blue Jays didn't drop a set against Ursinus in improving to 4-0 in league play. Matt Naftilan beat Todd Wonderlin, 6-0 and 6-0, to fuel the 9-0 rout. Vincent Schoeck dropped just one game in knocking off Robert Saunders at fifth singles, while Vale dropped just two in a 6-1, 6-1 win over Ben Isser at first singles.

Johns Hopkins will return to action on Sunday when the Blue Jays play at Salisbury in a non-conference match against the Sea Gulls.