Match Results

NEWBURGH, N.Y. – The Mount Saint Mary College men's tennis team (13-3) stayed red hot to come out on top in Thursday's Skyline Conference Championship semifinal match against No. 4-seed St. Joseph's College (L.I.) (7-5) by a score of 5-0 on the Mount Saint Mary College Tennis Courts. The win improves the Knights' winning streak to 10 matches and sends the Knights to the Skyline Conference Championship finals, which they will host either Saturday or Sunday depending on the winner of Thursday evening's match between No. 2 Yeshiva University and No. 3 Farmingdale State College.
 
The Knights quickly jumped out to a 3-0 advantage after sweeping doubles play. Sophomore Dan Witke (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and graduate student Kevin Ryan (West Islip, N.Y.) grabbed the first point of the match with an 8-2 victory at No. 3 doubles over Stephen Fox and Kevin Karpowich. Senior Greg Jacob (Ridgefield, Conn.) and junior Nate Dimmie (Middletown, N.Y.), less than an hour removed from learning that they both made the Skyline All-Conference Teams, took down Adam Friel and Tom O'Keefe, 8-4, at No. 1 doubles. Sophomore Mike Balokoz (Milford, Conn.) and freshman Gavin McNulty (Darien, Conn.) wrapped up doubles play with a win at No. 2 over Brandon Abbatiello and Chris Corrao, 8-5.
 
Needing just two wins to close out the match, the Knights got the final two points from their No. 3 and No. 6 singles players. Balokoz played well to quickly defeat O'Keefe, 6-0, 6-1, at third singles, and then junior Connor Bean (Glenville, N.Y.) took care of Denzil Charles at flight six, 6-2, 6-0, to clinch the match.
 
The Knights will host the Skyline Conference Championship finals this weekend. They will play on Sunday, April 27, at 1 p.m. if higher-seeded Yeshiva defeats Farmingdale State, or on Saturday, April 26, at 1 p.m. if the Rams manage to upset the Maccabees. Their Thursday evening semifinal match begins at 8 p.m.
 
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