ROCHESTER N.Y. (April 7, 2009) – Sophomore Carlo Pardo clinched the match for the Stevens Institute of Technology men's tennis team in its 5-4 win over the University of Rochester this past Saturday in Rochester, N.Y. The Ducks started the day off with a 9-0 sweep of St. John Fisher College earlier in the day. Pardo also claimed two more singles victories on the weekend, including a flawless straight-set win against Alfred University on Sunday. With the victories, the Ducks improve to 10-2 on the year and 4-0 in Empire 8 play.

Saturday April 4, Stevens def. Fisher – 9-0
The Ducks began the weekend off having swept in doubles, led by the tandem of sophomores Jason Ringstad and Arik Zeevy at No. 1 doubles. The pair upended juniors Matt Aquino (Fairport, N.Y.) and Tim Adler (Seneca Falls, N.Y.), 8-2. The freshman-sophomore combination of Gregory Klose and Jay Lee took down senior Jack Forrest (Elmira, N.Y.) and freshman Chris Maley (Rexford, N.Y.), 8-3 at No. 3 doubles. Senior Kobe Attias and junior Piotr Rusinkiewicz closed out the sweep with an 8-3 victory at second doubles against seniors Karl Schiefer (Liverpool, N.Y.) and Mike O'Connor (Syracuse, N.Y.).

The Ducks downed the Cardinals in order during singles play, all in straight sets. Zeevy dropped Aquino, unblemished at first singles, 6-0, 6-0. Ringstad cruised by Adler (6-1, 6-1) at No. 2 singles, while Lee overcame O'Conner (6-2, 6-2) at third singles. Attias posted a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Schiefer at No. 4 singles as Pardo claimed a 6-3, 6-4 win against freshman John Whelehan (Batavia, N.Y.) at fifth singles. Klose blew by senior John Zinni (LeRoy, N.Y.), 6-3, 6-1 at No. 6 singles.

Saturday April 4, Stevens def. Rochester – 5-4
Stevens finished doubles action with a 2-1 mark on the match as Ringstad and Zeevy were shutdown by the sophomore-junior combination of Bennett Peterson (Wilmette, Ill.) and Brian Bowman (Clayton, N.Y.), 8-0. Rusinkiewicz and Attias knotted the match at 1-1 when they recorded an 8-6 victory against the team of freshman Matt Volkov (Rockville, Md.) and sophomore Patrick Sheenhan (Troy, Mo.) at second doubles. Klose and Lee battled tough against sophomores Daniel Barbash (Old Tappan, N.J.) and Jeff Zink (Wilmington, Del.) to record a 9-8 (1) tiebreaker win at No. 3 doubles. 

Zeevy fell to Bowman (6-2, 6-2) to start off singles play and tie the match at 2-all. Lee put the Ducks back on top with his tiebreaker win (6-3, 7-6 (2)) over Zink at fourth singles. Rusinkiewicz posted a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory at third singles against Sheehan as Ringstad fell at No. 2 singles, 6-0, 7-6 (10) to Peterson. It was then Pardo's 6-4, 6-3 victory at sixth singles that clinched the match for Stevens as he upended Barbash. Attias fell to Volkov at fifth singles by a 5-7, 6-3, 10-3 decision.

Sunday April 5, Stevens def. Alfred – 9-0
The Ducks closed out the weekend with a 9-0 sweep of conference foes, the Saxons. Lee and Klose teamed to shutdown seniors Nick Middaugh (Belmont, N.Y.) and Tim Pruyn (North Tonawanda, N.Y.), 8-0 at third doubles. Ringstad and Zeevy blew by the freshman-sophomore combination of Houghton Connor (Orleans, Mass.) and Nathan Kucko (Binghamton, N.Y.) at No. 1 doubles, 8-2. Attias and Rusinkiewicz secured the 3-0 start to the match with an 8-6 victory at second singles as the pair overcame freshman Nathan Garletts (Havertown, Pa.) and sophomore Ryan Parlia (Valley Stream, N.Y.).

Pardo started singles action with a straight-set win (6-0, 6-0) against freshman Kyle McDevitt (Underhill, Vt.) at sixth singles. Lee overcame Middaugh, 6-0, 6-2 at No. 4 singles, while Rusinkiewicz upended Garletts by a flawless score of 6-0, 6-0 at third singles. Zeevy took care of Houghton (6-2, 6-1) at first singles as Attias registered a 6-1, 6-1 win against Parlia. Ringstad finished the match with a 6-1, 6-1 victory against Kucko.

The Ducks return to action this Friday as Stevens will host conference rival Ithaca College at the Stevens Tennis Courts, slatted for a noon start.