September 19, 2009

The Mount St. Mary's men's tennis team will host Northeast Conference rival Saint Francis (Pa.) on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the MSM Tennis Courts. The Mount is coming off a 7-0 win over Shepherd in the home opener this past Tuesday.

Mount St. Mary's (1-0) vs. Saint Francis (Pa.) (2-0)
Mount St. Mary's Tennis Courts, Emmitsburg, Md.
Sunday, September 20, 2:30 p.m.

Mount Update: The Mountaineers posted a 7-0 win over Shepherd in the home opener this past Tuesday. The Mountaineers did not lose a set in singles action, highlighted by 6-0, 6-0 sweeps by Mike Salomon (No. 2), Andrew Marinucci (No. 4), Taylor Place (No. 5) and Matthew Blake (No. 6). The Mount also swept all three doubles matches, dropping just three games, to earn the doubles point.

About the Red Flash: Saint Francis (Pa.) enters this Sunday's match with a 2-0 record after defeating Juniata (9-0) and NEC foe Robert Morris (5-2). Elahn Pogue and Stephen Kowalski paced the Red Flash in the win over Juniata.

The All-Time Series: The Mount hold a 15-9 advantage in the all-time series since the Mountaineers moved to NCAA Division I in 1988-89. Last year, the Mount downed the Red Flash, 4-3, at home during the regular season, but fell to Saint Francis (Pa.), 4-3, in the consolation round of the NEC Tournament. That loss to the Red Flash snapped a 10-match win Mount win streak in the series dating back to the 2001-02 season.

Freshman Blake Named NEC Player and Rookie of the Week: Mount St. Mary's freshman Matthew Blake was named the Northeast Conference Player and Rookie of the Week after posting a 2-1 record in both singles and doubles action at the George Mason Invitational to open the season. Blake is the first Mount men's tennis player to earn a weekly NEC honor since Derek Taylor in October 2006.

Mostowtt Cracks Top 10: Senior Thad Mostowtt, playing at the No. 3 spot in the Mountaineer lineup this season, has moved into the top 10 all-time at the school in career singles wins. Mostowtt is 37-33 in his Mount career in singles play, moving him into 10th place on the Mount's all-time singles wins list. Mostowtt is two wins shy of ninth place (Joe Benson, 39-51, 1989-93).

Newcomers Add Depth: The Mount has three freshmen in the starting lineup this season. Mike Salomon is playing at the No. 2 singles spot, freshman Taylor Place is at the No. 5 position and freshman Matthew Blake is the Mount's No. 6 player.

Up Next: The Mount hosts La Salle on Sunday, September 27, at 11:00 a.m. on campus.