Murali, Bonnies down Duquesne 4-3.
3/12/2005

St. Bonaventure defeated Duquesne 4-3 in Monroeville, PA.  The win improves the Bonnies record to 8-8 and 2-1 in conference play.  Senior Nikhil Murali (pictured) led the Bonnies with two wins - including the clinching singles victory.

The Bonnies came out of the gates fast and won all 3 doubles matches.  At #1, the duo of Murali and senior Mario Arce won 8-3.  At #2, the sophomore duo of Andrew Hart and Alejandro Nery were 8-5 winners.  At #3, freshman Antonio Farias and sophomore Dejan Stankovic won 8-4.  The match was Stankovic's first after missing most of the last four matches with ankle and hand injuries.

Arce was dominant in a straight-set victory for the Bonnies at #1, giving the team a 2-0 lead.  However, Duquesne's singles players picked up their level and energy.  Nery was unable to recover from a bad start and dropped a straight-set decision at 2, cutting the Bonnies lead to 1 with 4 matches remaining.  Hart won a competitive match at #4 in straight sets.  Hart recovered from a 3-5 first set deficit to win.  Stankovic dropped a straight-set decision at #6 to cut the Bonnies lead back to 1.  With the Bonnies up 3-2, two players remained on court - senior Sajeel Qureshi at #5 and Murali at #3.  Murali and Qureshi had won their first sets but both Duquesne opponents played well and picked up quick second set victories.  Murali raced to an early 3rd set lead and was able to clinch the victory for the Bonnies.  Qureshi's opponent scored a late break of serve and was able to hang on for the 3-set victory at #5 victory, making the final score 4-3 in favor of the Bonnies.   

 LOOKING AHEAD

The Bonnies will return home for a Sunday afternoon for a non-conference match against the University of Maryland - Baltimore County.  This the first meeting between the two teams.