April 7, 2005

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Senior Aaron Kusza (Wallingford, Conn.) won his No. 1 singles match in straight sets and Angel Rubio (Estado de Mexico, Mexico) and Sean Gallagher (Fort Wayne, Ind.) followed with additional singles wins, but it was not enough to propel the Wildcats over UMBC and Villanova (6-10) fell just short of the Retrievers, 4-3, on Thursday afternoon in the Villanova Tennis Complex.

Kusza won his singles match, 6-4, 7-6, over UMBC's James Tyler. Rubio won a close No.4 match over Lief Hallowell, 6-4, 7-6, and Gallagher, who notched the third and final singles win for Villanova at the No. 6 spot, cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 win over Mehrban Iranshad.

In doubles action, Kusza and Baraldi defeated Irfan Shamasdin and David Jackson, 9-7 at No. 1. However, UMBC took the last two doubles matches for the winning point, as they also won three singles matches.

Villanova returns to conference action on Sunday, April 10, when it hosts St. John's at 12 p.m.

UMBC 4, Villanova 3 Singles
1. Kusza (VU) def. Tyler (UMBC), 6-4, 7-6
2. Shamasdin (UMBC) def. Baraldi, 7-5, 6-4
3. Ferreira (UMBC) def. Chimerakis (VU), 6-4, 7-6
4. Rubio (VU) def. Hallowell (UMBC), 6-4, 7-6
5. Jackson (UMBC) def. Fahrendorf (VU), 6-4, 6-0
6. Gallagher (VU) def. Iranshad, 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
1. Kusza/Baraldi (VU) def. Tyler/Shamasdin, 9-7
2. Tyler/Ferreira (UMBC) def. Chimerakis/Gallagher (VU), 8-6
3. Hardja/Gusmao (UMBC) def. Fahrendorf/Farmer (VU), 8-5