Strong Doubles Showing Helps Stevens Secure First-Ever Win Over Perennial Power TCNJ
HOBOKEN, N.J. (April 9, 2011) – The Stevens Institute of Technology men’s tennis team, ranked 12th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) Northeast Region, took two of three doubles matches in a closely-contested 5-4 win over perennial Division III powerhouse The College of New Jersey at the Stevens Tennis Courts in Hoboken, N.J. The win, the Ducks’ fourth-straight and sixth overall of the season, is a program-first over the ITA’s Northeast Region No. 9 Lions. TCNJ fell to 6-3 on the year with the loss.
After suffering an 8-6 loss at third doubles, the Ducks’ Arik Zeevy and Jason Ringstad outlasted the Lions’ Steven Fernandez (West Windsor, N.J.) and Dean Thompson (Westfield, N.J.) 9-8 (7-5) in the second slot.
Stevens’ sophomore tandem of Chris Rosensteel and Shota Tasaki then kept the Ducks’ rolling, defeating TCNJ’s Jeremy Eckardt (Belle Mead, N.J.) and TJ Riley (Mount Laurel, N.J.), ranked seventh in the region, 9-7 to stake the home team to a 2-1 lead heading into singles action.
TCNJ’s Howard Telson (Edison, N.J.) defeated Stevens’ Jay Lee 6-1, 6-1 at fifth singles to tie the match at 2-2 before Fernandez earned a 7-5, 6-0 decision over Zeevy at second singles to put the Lions back on top. Ringstad responded with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph in the fourth slot before Rosensteel bested Eckhardt – ranked 17th in the Northeast Region – 6-1, 7-5. Looking to seal the match, Tasaki wrapped up the Stevens’ victory, scoring a hard-fought 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 win over Riley in third singles.