SPARKILL, N.Y. – Sophomore Mark Covert won a 6-3, 7-5 decision at third singles to lead the East Stroudsburg University men's tennis team to a 5-4 win at St. Thomas Aquinas on Tuesday.

The Spartans won the first two flights in both singles and doubles, but Covert and junior Zach Ontell posted an 8-1 win at third doubles and Ontell also picked up a 6-0, 6-2 win at sixth singles for the Warriors. Covert's singles match was the most tightly contested of the afternoon as he edged Nick Cattadino for what proved to be the deciding point.

Graduate student James Norris won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4 singles and Seth Heller won 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5. The doubles tandem of Will Norris and James Norris fell 9-7 at the first spot, as did the second pairing of Heller and Jared Rosenberg, but the singles lineup picked up four wins to pull out the victory.

The Warriors will compete in the ITA East Regionals this weekend at Bloomsburg.


ESU 5, St. Thomas Aquinas 4

Doubles
1. Kilian Wantzen and Nick Cattadino (STA) d. Will Norris and James Norris, 9-7
2. Prince Silva and Nicolas Jacques (STA) d. Seth Heller and Jared Rosenberg, 9-7
3. Zach Ontell and Mark Covert (ESU) d. Michael Antolini and Edward Reiter, 8-1

Singles
1. Jacques (STA) d. Will Norris, 6-0, 6-3
2. Wantzen (STA) d. Rosenberg, 6-2, 6-0
3. Covert (ESU) d. Cattadino, 6-3, 7-5
4. James Norris (ESU) d. Silva, 6-1, 6-1
5. Heller (ESU) d. Reiter, 6-2, 6-3
6. Ontell (ESU) d. Antolini, 6-0, 6-2