April 26, 2003

Rocky Hill, Conn. - The second-seeded Stony Brook University men's tennis team earned a 4-1 victory over third-seeded Vermont to advance to the title match of the America East Championships on Saturday afternoon. The Seawolves will take on Binghamton in the finals on Sunday. In women's action, Stony Brook was eliminated by top-seeded Boston University, 4-0, in the semifinals.

The match format changed to singles first and a first to four points format due to the matches being moved indoor due to inclement weather.

Stony Brook took four of the five completed singles matches to advance to the America East Championship match for the second consecutive year. Michael Crooks (6-4, 6-0 over Matthew Spring), Egil Anonsen (6-0, 6-1 over Tom Whittaker), Jean Francois Robitaille (7-6 (7-3), 6-1), and Philippe Amireault (6-2, 6-3 over Jonathan Cooper) posted wins at second through fifth singles, respectively, for the Seawolves, who look to win their first America East championship after falling, 4-1, to Hartford in last year's championship match. Vermont won its point at first singles, where Zeljko Knezevic defeated Gareth Williams, 6-3, 6-3. Stony Brook's James Carpenter led Vermont's Eric Conway 7-5, 3-0, at sixth singles when the match was halted due to the team score having been decided.

The winner of Sunday's match between Stony Brook and Binghamton receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tennis Championships. The Bearcats posted a 4-3 win over Stony Brook earlier this season.

In the women's semifinals, eight-time defending America East Champion Boston University handed Stony Brook a 4-0 setback to advance to the title match.

The Terriers posted wins at first singles (Lindsey Dynof, 1-6, 6-2, 6-1 over Anne Catherine Valle), second singles (Elena deMendoza, 6-2, 7-5 over Patricia Gomez), third singles (Laura Ahmes, 6-3, 6-1 over Karen Hansen), and fourth singles (Alana Marcu, 6-1, 6-1 over Georgia Bushell). The matches at fifth and sixth singles were halted due to the team score having been decided. In those matches, Boston University's Elisa Glas led Claire Shean 6-3, 4-1, and the Terriers' Aimee Charest led Lauren Conching 6-2, 3-0 at fifth and sixth singles respectively.