WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Monmouth University men's tennis squad registered a pair of 7-0 shutout victories over visiting Saint Francis (Pa.) and Siena, this past weekend at the MU Tennis Courts. The pair of victories stretches the win streak for the Blue and White to eight matches and improves its overall record to 10-6, while it remains unbeaten in league play with a 3-0 mark. The wins set up a battle with Fairfield, which stands at 2-2 in conference action, this Wednesday, April 9th at 3:00 p.m. at the MU Tennis Courts.

On Saturday, the Hawks jumped on the Red Flash (6-7) by sweeping the doubles point. Victor Pugliese (Boulogne, France/CNED [San Diego]) along with partner Christian Vieira (Houston, Texas/Memorial) and Freddy Marcinkowski (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) and partner Ramy Bekhiet (Robbinsville, N.J./Robbinsville) each eased to wins at No. 1 and No. 2, respectfully. Przemyslaw Filipek (Bedzin, Poland/Second Lo [Silesia]) and Bee Kumthonkittikul (Bangkok, Thailand/Pendleton School) edged Eli Cerdan and Lawson Barter, 8-6, to complete the sweep.

Pugliese, the reigning MAAC Player of the Week, continued his stellar play at No. 1 singles with his 6-2, 6-0 win over Washi Gervais and Filipek cruised to a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 2. Kumthonkittikul needed three sets to down Cerdan, 6-2, 4-6, 10-7 at No. 3, while Marcinkowski and Luke Adamus (Mosman, New South Wales/Redlands) both registered 6-1, 6-3 victories at No. 4 and No.5, respectfully. Vieira rounded out the Hawks' scoring with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Barter.

"Our guys did a great job in some very tough conditions,” said Head Coach Cory Hubbard following the match. “I thought we played smart and were very mentally tough. Getting the doubles point was huge and our guys at No. 3 did a great job when all the pressure was on them. In singles, we came out and grabbed the momentum early winning all the first sets.”
The Hawks' double teams set the tone again the following day against the Saints (3-10, 1-4 MAAC), earning wins in all three matches. Marcinkowski and Bekiet opened up the scoring with an 8-3 victory at No. 2, followed by Pugiese and Vieira's fourth victory at No. 1 with their 8-4 win. Filipek and Kumthonkittikul eased to an 8-1 triumph over Darren Reisch and Joe Hom at No. 3 to conclude doubles action.

MU continued to roll in singles action as Kumthonkittkul blanked Alex Burbine 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 to push the Hawks ahead, 2-0. Filipek posted his fifth straight victory with his 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 2, while Pugliese's 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 1 was his 10th consecutive win and 12th dual match victory in his first year in a Monmouth uniform. Marcinkowski defeated Eric Sumanaru 6-2, 6-1 at No. 4, while Adamus and Vieira both notched 6-0, 6-0 victories at No. 5 and No. 6, respectfully, to clinch the Hawks' fourth shutout in as many matches.

"I am very happy with the way the guys controlled the match from the beginning of the doubles until the last point,” Hubbard commented after the win over the Saints. “Obviously, winning eight in a row is a great accomplishment, but we still have our biggest matches of the season coming up. The good thing is all the guys are playing well and we have made improvements individually and in our doubles tactics. We have to keep pushing in practice and turn the energy up even more."

The Stags, who were selected fourth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, enters Wednesday's tilt with an 8-6 overall mark.

Tennis Match Results
Saint Francis (Pa.) vs Monmouth
Apr 05, 2014 at West Long Branch, N.J.

Monmouth 7, Saint Francis (Pa.) 0

Singles competition
1. Pugliese, Victor (MU) def. Gervais, Washi (SFU) 6-2, 6-0
2. Filipek, Przemyslaw (MU) def. Rodrigo, Tico (SFU) 6-1, 6-4
3. Kumthonkittikul, Bee (MU) def. Cerdan, Eli (SFU) 6-2, 4-6, 10-7
4. Marcinkowski, Freddy (MU) def. Jimenez, Chris (SFU) 6-1, 6-3
5. Adamus, Luke (MU) def. Carvajal, Sergio (SFU) 6-1, 6-3
6. Vieira, Christian (MU) def. Barter, Lawson (SFU) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Pugliese, Victor/Vieira, Christian (MU) def. Gervais, Washi/Rodrigo, Tico (SFU) 8-1
2. Marcinkowski, Freddy/Bekhiet, Ramy (MU) def. Carvajal, Sergio/Jimenez, Chris (SFU) 8-2
3. Filipek, Przemyslaw/Kumthonkittikul, Bee (MU) def. Cerdan, Eli/Barter, Lawson (SFU) 8-6

Match Notes:
Saint Franics (Pa.) 6-7
Monmouth 9-6

Tennis Match Results
Siena vs Monmouth
Apr 06, 2014 at West Long Branch, N.J.

Monmouth 7, Siena 0

Singles competition
1. Pugliese, Victor (MU) def. Schmitz, Ryan (SIENA) 6-3, 6-3
2. Filipek, Przemyslaw (MU) def. Collins, Peter (SIENA) 6-2, 6-3
3. Kumthonkittikul, Bee (MU) def. Burbine, Alex (SIENA) 6-0, 6-0
4. Marcinkowski, Freddy (MU) def. Sumanaru, Eric (SIENA) 6-2, 6-1
5. Adamus, Luke (MU) def. Reisch, Darren (SIENA) 6-0, 6-0
6. Vieira, Christian (MU) def. Funiciello, Matt (SIENA) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Pugliese, Victor/Vieira, Christian (MU) def. Schmitz, Ryan/Collins, Peter (SIENA) 8-4
2. Bekhiet, Ramy/Marcinkowski, Freddy (MU) def. Burbine, Alex/Sumanaru, Eric (SIENA) 8-3
3. Filipek, Przemyslaw/Kumthonkittikul, Bee (MU) def. Reisch, Darren/Holm, Joe (SIENA) 8-1

Match Notes:
Siena 3-10 (1-4 MAAC)
Monmouth 10-6 (3-0 MAAC)
Doubles Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
Singles Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1, 5, 4, 6