PHILADELPHIA – Saint Louis men's tennis captured its third consecutive victory and fourth in five matches Wednesday, blanking Atlantic 10 Conference opponent La Salle 4-0.
Senior Pat Kella won his No. 1 singles match, tying him with Ikaika Jobe and Lance Vodicka for SLU's career singles victories record. Kella, Jobe and Vodicka are knotted at 54 wins apiece.
The Billikens (6-5) likely would have won all three doubles contests had they not clinched the point by winning at Nos. 2 and 3. Kella and Joe Flanagan cruised 8-1 at No. 2, while Vuk Poledica and Paarth Dodhiawala claimed an 8-3 victory at No. 3. Yehia El Sallaly and Nishaad Balachandran led 7-3 at No. 1.
Kella defeated De'Sean Fennell 6-2, 6-4. He was joined in the win column by Flanagan, a 6-1, 6-2 victor over Chas Berenato at No. 2, and Poledica, who got past Brian Balico 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4. El Sallaly and Dale Fetterman were tied at a set apiece when their No. 3 match was halted.
Up next for the Billikens is a match at Chicago State Friday, March 21.
