Tritons Dominate With Sweep Over Division I Greyhounds

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd men's tennis team dominated in a sweep of Division I Loyola (Md.) 7-0 at the Fred Bullard Courts Thursday morning.

Eckerd (5-2) swept Loyola (1-5) after taking the doubles point 2-1 before securing all six singles positions. 

The No. 2 pairing of Adrian Gheorghe and Marshall Hulett and the No. 3 pairing of Eric Asakura and Lukas Palla secured the doubles point for the Tritons. Gheorghe and Hulett settled their match 6-1 while Asakura and Palla defeated their opponents 6-3 to seal the doubles victory for Eckerd.

Eckerd swept all six singles matches to shutout the Greyhounds. Eckerd's No. 2 Mario Kirkov (3-6, 6-1, 12-10), No. 4 Asakura (6-3, 2-6, 10-6) and No. 5 Gheorghe (1-6, 6-4, 10-8) all battled in three sets to earn the win. Eckerd's top singles spot of Batu Ataseven, defeated Loyola in two sets, winning 6-4 and 6-2. Hulett secured his win with a battle in the first set 7-5, finishing his match with 6-3 win in the second set. Palla took the No. 6 position with 6-4, 6-4 straight sets victory.

Eckerd men's tennis returns to action against Edinboro University of Pennsylvania on Saturday at 11:00 AM at the Fred Bullard Courts.

Singles competition 

1. Batu Ataseven (ECM25) def. Noah Castillo (LU) 6-4, 6-2

2. Mario Kirkov (ECM25) def. George Cavo (LU) 3-6, 6-1, 12-10

3. Marshall Hulett (ECM25) def. Ryan Boland (LU) 7-5, 6-3

4. Eric Asakura (ECM25) def. Ryan Gill (LU) 6-3, 2-6, 10-6

5. Adrian Gheorghe (ECM25) def. Blake Edwards (LU) 1-6, 6-4, 10-8

6. Lukas Palla (ECM25) def. Cristian Pemueller (LU) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles competition 

1. Noah Castillo and Ryan Gill (LU) def. Batu Ataseven and Mario Kirkov (ECM25) 6-4

2. Adrian Gheorghe and Marshall Hulett (ECM25) def. Cristian Pemueller and Ryan Boland (LU) 6-1

3. Eric Asakura and Lukas Palla (ECM25) def. Dylan Koziol and George Cavo (LU) 6-3