Tennis Opens 2011 Season with Pair of Losses to CUA, NY Poly

KINGS POINT, N.Y. – This past weekend, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy tennis team began its 2011 season with a pair of defeats to Landmark Conference-foe Catholic University (9-0) and non-league opponent N.Y. Polytechnic (6-3). USMMA dropped to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in league play.

Saturday, March 19: Catholic 9, USMMA 0

Singles

Bernardo Nogales-CUA def. Jeff Gulitus-KP, 6-0, 5-7, 10-5  Cassian Utrie-CUA def. Steve Ficken-KP, 6-0, 6-0  Joe Peters-CUA def. Cesar Pinilla-KP, 6-0, 6-0  Brian Bradley-CUA def. Richard Hine-KP, 6-0, 6-0  Kyle Kramer-CUA def. Manny Tishler-KP, 6-0, 6-0  Joe Gribbin-CUA def. Cristina Fernandez-O'Toole-KP, 6-0, 6-0  

Doubles

Utrie/Peters-CUA def. Gulitus/Pinilla-KP, 8-5  Nogales/John Paul Roman-CUA def. Ficken/Hine-KP, 8-0  Kramer/Jason Quisberth-CUA def. Tishler/Fernandez-O'Toole-KP, 8-1  

Sunday, March 20: N.Y. Polytechnic 6, USMMA 3

Singles

Yan Krasny-NYP def. Jeff Gulitus-KP, 6-1, 6-0  Julian Wrede-NYP def. Biondi Phua-KP, 6-0, 7-5  Steve Ficken-KP def. Kyle Garingalao-NYP, 6-1, 6-2  Cesar Pinilla-KP def. Michael Sokolowsky-NYP, 6-3, 1-6, 10-7  Michael Ye-NYP def. Richard Hine-KP, 6-2, 6-4  Michael Lupo-NYP def. Manny Tishler-KP, 6-1, 6-1  

Doubles

Gulitus/Pinilla-KP def. Wrede/Ye-NYP, 8-3  Krasny/Garingalao-NYP def. Ficken/Phua-KP, 8-3  Alex Ryzhko/Kelvin Lin-NYP def. Hine/Tishler, 9-7  

Head Coach Mike Del Prete and the Mariners return to action tomorrow when they host Lehman College. The opening serve is slated for 4:30 p.m.