Oct. 10, 2002

STONY BROOK OUTLOOK: The Seawolves open dual match play this weekend after playing at various tournaments this fall.

The men's team played at both the Cornell Invitational and the University of Connecticut Invitational in September.

At UConn, three Seawolves advanced to the semifinal round in singles play, with freshman Michael Crooks capturing the title in Flight Two. Junior Egil Anonsen advanced to the semis in Flight One while sophomore James Carpenter repeated the feat in Flight Three.

Stony Brook also fared well in Flight Two doubles, with the duo of Carpenter and junior Philippe Amireault advancing to the finals. The Seawolves were narrowly defeated, 9-7, by UConn.

Crooks' 5-1 singles record is a team-best, while the doubles team of Carpenter and Amireault is 3-1 to lead the Seawolves.

Meanwhile, the women's team competed at the Eastern Collegiate Invitational and the Quinnipiac Invitational. At Quinnipiac, freshman Anne Cathrine Valle and junior Georgia Bushell advanced to the second round in Flight A and B singles, respectively, to lead Stony Brook.

Valle leads Stony Brook in singles play with a 3-2 record.

DUAL MATCH SEASON OUTLOOK: After finishing as America East Conference Tournament runners-up in both men's and women's action, the Seawolves head into this season with the same high expectations.

With five men's starters and three women's starters returning, Stony Brook looks to again fare well in this year's conference action.

Junior co-captain Karen Hansen returns after compiling the best record in both singles and doubles play last season. Hansen was 17-5 in singles, playing mostly at No. 3, and had a 14-5 mark in doubles (No. 1).

Fellow junior co-captain Georgia Bushell also comes off a strong campaign as a sophomore, with an 18-7 record in singles and 13-6 in doubles.

In men's action, junior Egil Anonsen returns after receiving All-America East honors last year. Anonsen compiled a 13-10 mark last year at No. 2 singles and was 13-5 at No. 2 doubles.

Also returning are senior co-captains David Hewitt and Gareth Williams, who will play key roles in singles and doubles.

AGAINST THIS WEEKEND'S OPPONENTS: The Seawolves faced all three of this weekend's opponents last season with Stony Brook coming out on top each time.

Both the men's and women's teams swept two matches last year with Hofstra, one in the fall and one in spring. The Seawolves women's team earned two 7-0 victories, while the men's team posted 6-1 and 7-0 wins.

The women's team was also perfect against Drexel and Fairfield last season, beating the Dragons 6-1 and Fairfield 5-2.

On the men's side, Stony Brook blanked Fairfield, 7-0.

ABOUT HOFSTRA: Hofstra's men's team opened its dual match season at Fairleigh Dickinson, where the Pride came away with a 4-3 victory. The team also competed at the Scott Satran Memorial Tournament. Freshman Nikola Djordjevic has gotten off to a great start for the Pride with an unblemished 7-0 record in singles play.

The women's team has had a tough start, losing its three dual matches against LIU-Brooklyn, St. John's and Fordham. They opened their season at the Eastern Collegiate Invitational.

ABOUT DREXEL: The Dragons men's team opens its season today as they face Fairfield to kick off this weekend's matches.

The women's team has only played one team--Temple--prior to this weekend.

ABOUT FAIRFIELD: The Stags will play their first dual match of the season this weekend. The Fairfield men's team competed in the Brown University Invitational and the Queens College Invitational.

The women's team played at the Eastern Collegiate Invitational and also faced St. John's before this weekend.