May 1, 2004
#20 Swarthmore Eliminates #18 WC
From NCAA Division III Tournament

FREDERICKSBURG, VA -- In a four-hour match that featured four singles flights going to a decisive third set, 18th-ranked Swarthmore College defeated 20th-ranked Washington College, 4-3, in the first round of the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Tournament today at Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, VA.

Washington took a 1-0 lead in the match by capturing the doubles point. Washington senior Pete Taylor (Canton, CT/Canton) and junior Asfand Farouk (Karachi, Pakistan/City School) bested Frank Visciano and Mike Noreika, 8-3, at No. 1. Swarthmore's Zac Rodd and Brian Park downed freshman Arturo Solis (Guatemala, Guatemala/Vallo Verde School) and sophomore Maciek Prytula (Szczecin, Poland/PLO), 8-6, at No. 2, while Washington freshman Vivian Chhetri (Delhi, India/Prachar Vidhlaya) and sophomore Tim Riskie (Woodbury, NJ/Woodbury) knocked off Ben Rae and Jon Reiss, 8-2, at No. 3.

The Shoremen and Garnet Tide split the only two singles matches that did not go three sets, as Farouk bested Rae, 6-2, 7-5 at No. 4 and Park defeated Prytula, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 5.

Visciano scored another win for Swarthmore by defeating Solis in three sets, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, at No. 3, but the Shoremen took a 3-2 lead in the match as Taylor downed Rodd, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4, at No. 1. Swarthmore then picked up wins in the final two singles flights to finish to win the match. Justin Durand defeated Riskie, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, at No. 6, while Reiss downed Chhetri, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

The Shoremen finished the year with a 13-6 dual match record for the second consecutive season. "This team was a privilege to coach in my first year at Washington College," remarked WC head coach Constantine Ananiadis. "Today was a hard-fought match and something to build on for next season. We have a great core coming back next year and our younger players will improve."

Match Results