MOUNT ST. MARY'S vs. HOWARD (MEN)

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

3:00 p.m., MSM Tennis Courts

MOUNT ST. MARY'S at ROBERT MORRIS

Thursday, April 9, 2009

1:00 p.m., Moon Township, Pa.

WOMEN'S PREVIEW

MOUNT UPDATE: The Mount has won three straight matches to move to 8-9 on the season. The Mountaineers downed NEC rivals Saint Francis (Pa.) and Monmouth by 7-0 scores over the weekend.

ABOUT THE COLONIALS: Robert Morris is 2-16 on the season after a 6-1 loss to Saint Bonaventure on March 28. The Colonials have lost three straight since a win over St. Francis (N.Y.).

THE ALL-TIME SERIES: The Mount holds a 10-2 lead in the all-time series with Robert Morris since the Mount's move to DI in 1988-89. The Mount has won the past five meetings, including a 4-0 victory last year against the Colonials.

BOLCHOZ NAMED NEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Bolchoz was a driving force behind Mount's three-win week. The sophomore won all three of her No. 1 singles matches, two of which came against Northeast Conference foes, in straight sets. Bolchoz, who now owns a 37-17 career record, bested the No. 1 players from league rivals Saint Francis (Pa.) and Monmouth as the Mount cruised to a pair of 7-0 shutout victories. She downed the Red Flash's Stephanie Rivera, 7-5, 6-0 one day before dominating the Hawks' Sarah Ragan, 6-1, 6-0. Bolchoz began the week by defeating Rachel Janasek, 6-4, 6-3, in helping Mount to a 4-3 team victory over cross-state rival Loyola (Md.). This is the second time this year Bolchoz and third time in her career she has been named NEC Tennis Player of the Week.

JOHNSON MOVING UP SINGLES WINS CHART: Junior Chelsea Johnson is 14-9 this season in singles matches to improve her career record at the Mount to 55-24. Johnson is tied for sixth all-time on the Mount's career singles victory list with Michelle Perry (55-44, 1991-95). Johnson already owns the Mount's school record for individual dual match singles wins with a career mark of 51-19 in dual matches.

HALLAHAN DOUBLING UP: Senior Kaitlin Hallahan has posted nine doubles wins this season to move to 44-37 in her career in doubles play. Her 44 wins are fifth all-time at the Mount for individual career doubles wins, just behind Katie Muething (45-43, 2003-07) for fourth.

WINNING SEASON: The Mount women's tennis team has posted a winning record in four straight seasons, the first time in school's Division I history the Mount has achieved that feat. Last season, the Mount finished 19-10 on the year, setting a school-record for wins in a season. The Mount is 6-9 this year with four regular season matches left on the schedule.

UP NEXT: The Mount heads hosts the University of the District of Columbia on April 14 at the MSM Tennis Courts.

MEN'S PREVIEW

MOUNT UPDATE: The Mount split a pair of matches this past weekend, downing Saint Francis (Pa.), 4-3, on Saturday before falling to Monmouth, 6-1, on Sunday. Senior Favio Osorio won at No. 1 singles on both days to pace the Mount. Thad Mostowtt's win at No. 4 singles provided the winning points in the Mount's 4-3 victory on Saturday against Saint Francis (Pa.).

ABOUT THE BISON: Howard enters today's match with a 5-12 record this season after beating Delaware State, 5-2, on Saturday. Howard is 0-10 this season on the road. Michael Gee plays at No. 1 singles and has an 8-9 record on the year.

ABOUT THE COLONIALS: Robert Morris is 2-15 on the season after falling to St. Bonaventure on March 28. The Colonials have lost three in a row since a 5-2 victory over St. Francis (N.Y.) on March 20.

THE ALL-TIME SERIES: The Mount is 5-7 all-time against Howard since the move to Division I in 1988-89. The last meeting was a 5-2 Mount St. Mary's victory on Feb. 10, 2007. The Mount holds a 6-6 record against Robert Morris. The Colonials won the last meeting, 4-0, in the NEC Tournament in 2007. Robert Morris has won two straight in the series.

OSORIO HAS STRONG WEEK: Senior Favio Osorio had a strong week for the Mount last week, posting a 3-0 record at the No. 1 singles position. His three wins give him an 11-8 record this season in singles play, including a 6-5 mark at the No. 1 spot in the lineup.

UP NEXT: The Mount hosts the University of the District of Columbia on April 14 at 3:00 p.m. at the MSM Tennis Courts.