SPARKILL, NY – On a day when a senior set yet another men's tennis record, it was a freshman who stole the show. Paul Voigt '21 (Cologne, Germany) was a double winner for the Spartans, the second of which proving to be the clinching point to give the hosts a 5-4 regional victory over Kutztown University. With the match tied at 4-4, and after taking an early 4-1 lead in the first set, Voigt lost the next five games to drop the set 6-4. The second set was a reversal of the first, as Voigt would win 6-4 to force a third set to decide the match. Unleashing his inner wunderkind, Voigt won the first three games of the third set in record pace. He would drop only one game to win 6-1 to beat the impending darkness.
The clincher role had previously been assumed by fellow freshman, Jakob Ljungberg '21 (Stockholm, Sweden), who most recently won the decisive point in a 5-4 victory at Jefferson University. Playing at second singles this match, the freshman Swede won with ease 6-1, 6-2 to earn the third point for the Spartans.
Closely following STAC's win at second singles was senior Aaron Stahl '18 (Dusseldorf, Germany) who won at first singles 6-3, 6-4. Stahl also teamed with fellow senior Andreu Ferragut '18 (Mallorca, Spain) for an 8-5 first doubles win. The victory marked Ferragut's 40th career doubles triumph, establishing a new program record. He now owns the career bests for singles, doubles, and combined wins, and is just ten wins shy of becoming STAC's first ever tennis player to eclipse the century mark.
STAC concludes their fall season with a 4-1 record, which is the second best fall finish ever. The Spartans were a perfect 5-0 in the 2015-16 season. They will be next in action in the spring semester.
St. Thomas Aquinas 5, Kutztown 4
Doubles
1. Aaron Stahl/Andreu Ferragut (STAC) def. Martin Munoz/Nolan Perugini (KU), 8-5
2. Nikolai Kodinov/Gabriel Souza (KU) def. Jakob Ljungberg/Luke Taplin (STAC), 8-4
3. Paul Voigt/Eddy de Abreu (STAC) def. David Nunez/Josh Carl (KU), 8-3
Singles
1. Aaron Stahl (STAC) def. Martin Munoz (KU), 6-3, 6-4
2. Jakob Ljungberg (STAC) def. Joan Perez (KU), 6-1, 6-2
3. Nikolai Kodinov (KU) def. Andreu Ferragut (STAC), 7-5, 7-6 (7-3)
4. Nolan Perugini (KU) def. Eddy de Abreu (STAC), 6-2, 6-1
5. Paul Voigt (STAC) def. Josh Carl (KU), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
6. Gabriel Souza (KU) def. Luke Taplin (STAC), 6-3, 6-2
Ex. Matt Corsie (STAC) def. Jason Listmeier (KU), 9-7
Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 1, 2) Singles (4, 2, 1, 3, 6, 5*)
St. Thomas Aquinas 4-1 (0-0 ECC)
Kutztown 1-1 (0-0 PSAC)
T: 4:01