April 7, Storrs, Conn.-- The Georgetown men's tennis team attempted to further its quest for a berth in the BIG EAST Conference Championship in an important conference duel at the University of Connecticut. Connecticut won an agonizingly close 5-2 decision over the Hoyas that required spectacular come-from-behind efforts on the part of several Huskies. The loss dropped the Hoyas' overall record to 7-12 and its BIG EAST record to 1-3.
In the doubles competition, the Hoyas received a big boost from the play of the #1 doubles team of Marc Lohser (Woodbury, N.Y./Syosset) and Dennis Cravedi (Bethesda, Md./Georgetown Prep). Lohser and Cravedi had not won a BIG EAST match in doubles but came through with an 8-5 win over UConn's Mike Furman and Joe Lang. At #2 doubles the Hoyas tandem of Nick Sklavounos (Waterford, Conn./Waterford) and Michael Nelson (Trinidad & Tobago/Port-of-Spain) battled their way to a tiebreak but fell 9-8(2) to Luke Grimshaw and Andy Sweatt. The decisive result that gave the Hoyas the team point for the doubles competition came at #3 doubles where the Hoya tandem of Andre Benjamin and Troy Crichlow defeated Max Zubatsky and Bryan Adinolfi 9-8 (8) after saving two match points down 8-7. Crichlow and Benjamin improved their record to 3-1 in BIG EAST doubles play and their win gave the Hoyas the team doubles point.
Holding a 1-0 lead as the singles competition unfolded, the Hoyas quickly saw their lead vanish. Sklavounos fell to UC's Furman at #1 singles in a tightly contested 6-3,7-5 match. UC's Grimshaw downed Cravedi at #4 singles 6-1,7-5 as Grimshaw overturned a break of serve disadvantage in the second set. The Hoyas were then behind 2-1 in the team score when first year player Nelson defeated UConn's senior captain Adinolfi 6-4,7-6(3) at #6 singles. With the team score knotted at 2-2, UConn squeaked out the remaining three singles matches to make the final margin 5-2. Lang defeated Benjamin at #5 singles 6-2,5-7,7-6(3) to claim UConn's third team point. UC's Zubatsky ended the drama by coming from 4-1 down in the third set to win 4-6,6-2,7-6(6). UC's Sweatt claimed victory over Crichlow at #3 singles 6-3,3-6,7-5 as Crichlow received a game and match penalty at 5-5 in the third set which cost him the final two games.
The Hoyas have one match remaining on their spring 2001 schedule. West Virginia, who is expected to qualify for the BIG EAST Conference Championship, will visit Georgetown on Saturday April 14 for an 11:00 a.m. match.
Georgetown vs. Connecticut
April 7, 2001, University of Connecticut Outdoor Tennis Complex,
Storrs, Conn.
Doubles
#1 Marc Lohser-Dennis Cravedi d Mike Furman-Joe Lang(UC) 8-5
#2 Luke Grimshaw-Andy Sweatt(UC) d Nick Sklavounos-Mike Nelson 9-8(2)
#3 Andre Benjamin-Troy Crichlow d Max Zubatsky-Bryan Adinolfi 9-8(8)
Team Score after doubles competition, GU 1 UC 0
Singles
#1 Furman(UC) d Sklavounos 6-3,7-5
#2 Zubatsky(UC) d Lohser 4-6,6-2,7-6(6)
#3 Sweatt(UC) d Crichlow 6-3,3-6,7-5
#4 Grimshaw(UC) d Cravedi 6-1,7-5
#5 Lang(UC) d Benjamin 6-2,5-7,7-6(3)
#6 Nelson d Adinolfi(UC) 6-4,7-6(3)
Team Score after singles competition, UC 5, GU 1
Final Score UC 5, GU 2
