LATROBE, Pa. (Mar. 21) – The Saint Vincent College men's tennis team opened Presidents' Athletic Conference play with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Geneva College on Saturday afternoon at the SVC Courts.
 
The win moved the Bearcats to 8-2 overall and 1-0 in PAC action.
 
Saint Vincent took control early in doubles play, sweeping all three flights to claim the opening point.
 
At first doubles, Blaise Bukovac and Braden Yokopenic earned a strong 6-2 win over Braiden Smalley and Joseph Kenneally. Brady Johnson and Matthew Sadusky followed with a 6-3 victory at second doubles against Ben Busler and Luke Crawford, while Julien Vonovier and J.T. Gockel completed the doubles sweep with a 6-3 win at third doubles over Owen Landis and Thayne Bodenmiller.
 
Needing three singles wins to secure the match, the Bearcats got straight-set victories from the middle of the lineup. At No. 2 singles, Yokopenic posted a 6-1, 6-4 win over Busler.
 
Johnson added a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Crawford at No. 4 singles. Sadusky added the clinching point with a 6-2, 6-4 victory against Kenneally at third singles.
 
Geneva picked up its three team points at the top and bottom of the singles lineup. Smalley earned a 6-1, 6-4 win over Bukovac at first singles, while Thayne Bodenmiller defeated William Hinkson IV 6-3, 6-1 at No. 5 and Owen Landis topped Timothy Jakubek 6-1, 6-4 at No. 6.
 
Even so, the Bearcats' clean sweep in doubles and three decisive singles victories proved to be the difference in the PAC opener.
 
Saint Vincent returns to action on Tuesday, March 24 with a road PAC matchup at Westminster. The match is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. in New Wilmington.