WEST WINDSOR, NJ (April 20, 2012) - The defending Northeast Conference Champion Sacred Heart men's tennis team did not go out without a fight in the opening round of the 2012 conference tournament, falling in a hard fought battle with Mount St. Mary's 4-2 Friday afternoon.  The Pioneers and Mountaineers played four three-set singles matches before it was all said and done and the Mount moving on to Saturday.

The #4 seed Mount opened by taking the double point as Taylor Place and Matthew Blake  beat Jacob Miller (West Chesterfield, NH) and Logan Mohring (Naples, FL) at #1 8-3 to set the pace.  Mike Zabetakis and Patrick McGliney sealed it with an 8-6 win over Justin Pagan and John Lopresti (Syosset, NY).

In singles, the Pioneers got wins from Miller and Lopresti.  Miller beat Zabetakis at #3, 6-3, 2-6 and 6-1 while Lopresti won at #6, 6-1, 4-6, and 6-1.  Luka Bagi (Branford, CT) lost a hard fought match at #5  to Place, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4). 

The #1 singles match would decide the match as Matthew Blake bested Chadd Sullo (Orange, CT) after dropping the first set 6-4.  Blake went on to win 6-2 and 6-4 to send the Mount on to the semifinals on Saturday and end the Pioneers bid at a repeat championship.

SHU will face St. Francis (NY) in a Consolation Match Saturday afternoon.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx