Orangeburg, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Tennis team returned to action on Saturday evening, hosting East Region foes Jefferson University at Match Point Tennis Club in Rockland County.
When the teams hit the court for doubles action, it would be the visiting Rams who would answer first, picking up the team point by taking the first two pairs matches. #2 Mario Antonio & Johary Rabetrano beat Don Vinz Lominoque & Tobias Fuerschuss, 6-3 before #3 Jules Thibault & Antonio Mateos Melenchon topped Seth Newman & Henry Ronnberg, 6-4.
The sides then turned their attention to singles competition and the Spartans responded in kind by taking the first two matches to take a 2-1 lead, as #5 Ondrej Sramek defeated Antonio Mateos Melenchon 6-4, 6-0 and #6 Henry Ronnberg bested Johary Rabetrano 6-4, 6-1. However, Jefferson would fight back with three straight victories to seize the team win. #4 Mario Antonio beat Seth Newman 6-4, 6-4, #2 Jules Thibault won over Tobias Fuerschuss 7-5, 6-1 and #1 Hannibal Borg slipped past Don Vinz Lominoque 5-7, 7-5, 6-4.
JEFFERSON 4/STAC 2 - OFFICIAL RESULTS
DOUBLES
Order of Finish: 2, 3*, 1
SINGLES
3.
Ludovico Truffelli (STAC) vs. Enrique Soto Ballester (JEFF) 6-1, 7-6 (3), 4-1 (Unfinished)
4. Mario Antonio (JEFF) def.
Seth Newman (STAC) 6-4, 6-4
5.
Ondrej Sramek (STAC) def. Antonio Mateos Melenchon (JEFF) 6-4, 6-0
6.
Henry Ronnberg (STAC) def. Johary Rabetrano (JEFF) 6-4, 6-1
Order of Finish: 5, 6, 4, 2, 1*, 3
Jefferson Record: 3-2, 0-0 CACC
STAC Record: 2-2, 0-0 ECC
THE ROCKHILL REPORT
"Unfortunately, it was evident early on in this match, that Jefferson wanted to win more than we did", said Head Coach Dan Rockhill. "We continue to search for desperately needed team leaders and for an understanding that the team is more important than any individual."
"We had been practicing reasonably well lately so this clunker of a match comes as a bit of a surprise but we respect Jefferson for their effort. They out competed us plain and simple. They just might be the best team in the region."
"I need to do a better job of coaching", remarked Rockhill. "The STAC community deserves better that what we displayed tonight."
UP NEXT
St. Thomas Aquinas opens its ECC schedule on Saturday, March 2 (6:45 p.m.), when the Spartans host the University of the District of Columbia at Match Point Tennis Club in Orangeburg, N.Y.
