TRUMBULL, Conn.- The Sacred Heart University Men's Tennis team picked up their first Northeast Conference victory of the season this morning as the Pioneers defeated St. Francis Brooklyn by a final score of 6-1. The Pioneers will return to action on Thursday, Mar. 7 when SHU hosts Bryant. Matches begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Tennis Club of Trumbull.

The Pioneers would dominate the singles matches as five Pioneers took matches away from the Terriers as junior Seiji Hosokawa defeated Alejandro Riduejo 6-4, 6-4 to kick off the day followed by first-year William Wibmer defeating Guillermo Artiz 6-0, 7-6 (8). First-year Kevin Chao picked up his win against Tomas Dirube 6-4, 6-0 while junior Chris Sause picked up a win against Stefan Gmijovic in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 as senior Bryan Einstoss picked up the final singles win over Pablo Blasco-Torres 7-5, 6-2.

In doubles play, the duo of Hosokowa and Sause would defeat Blasco-Torres and Gmijovic 7-5 while the pairing of Caslduc Pla and graduate student Francisco Del Valle defeated Blasco and Louis 7-6 (2) to give the Pioneers with 6-1 victory.

Singles competition

1. Seiji Hosokawa (SHU1) def. Alejandro Ridruejo (SFBK) 6-4, 6-4

2. William Wibmer (SHU1) def. Guillermo Artiz (SFBK) 6-0, 7-6 (8-6)

3. Kevin Chao (SHU1) def. Tomas Dirube (SFBK) 6-4, 6-0

4. Daniel Blasco (SFBK) def. Luca Casalduc Pla (SHU1) 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4

5. Chris Sause (SHU1) def. Stefan Gmijovic (SFBK) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4

6. Bryan Einstoss (SHU1) def. Pablo Blasco-Torres (SFBK) 7-5, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. Alejandro Ridruejo/Guillermo Artiz (SFBK) def. William Wibmer/Kevin Chao (SHU1) 6-2

2. Seiji Hosokawa/Chris Sause (SHU1) def. Pablo Blasco-Torres/Stefan Gmijovic (SFBK) 7-5

3. Luca Casalduc Pla/Francisco Del Valle (SHU1) def. Daniel Blasco/Grant Louis (SFBK) 7-6 (7-5)

Match Notes:

St. Francis Brooklyn 1-5

Sacred Heart 3-7

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,2,6,1,5,4)