University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
  Men's Tennis  

Stories & Highlights
2007-08 season 

Devils Edge Warriors to Close out the Season (4/22/08)

In fitting fashion, the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia men’s tennis team closed out their 2007-08 campaign with a 5-4 win over East Stroudsburg University Tuesday afternoon at the McNeil Field Tennis Courts in Philadelphia.

The win was the Devils fifth straight and improved their record to 10-3.

USP took two of the three doubles matches to jump out to an early 2-1 lead. The #1 doubles team of senior Tyler Weisel (Greater Latrobe Sr. HS/Greensburg, Pa.) and sophomore Ricardo Martins (Idegio Pentagono/Sao Paulo, Brazil) were taken to the limit by ESU’s Jeff Kurz and Jared Howat before winning their match 9-7; improving their doubles mark to 11-2 on the year. Junior Paul Caceres (Bergen Catholic/ Teaneck, N.J.) and sophomore Dan Rubin (Neshaminy HS/Langhorne, Pa.) finished the season 8-0 as a doubles team with an 8-4 win over Julian Taibi and Rob Mikolon at #2 doubles. Ryan Baxter and Will Norris defeated sophomore Ken Connelly (Sacred Heart HS/Millville, N.J.) and freshman Chris Lukose (Lassiter HS/ Marietta, Ga.), 8-4 at #3 doubles for ESU’s only doubles win.

USP’s top three singles players were victorious enabling the Devils to secure the match with five points. Weisel was a 6-2, 6-0 victor over Kyle Doebler at #1 singles while Caceres defeated Kurz at #2 singles by the identical 6-2, 6-0 score. Caceres finished the season with an 11-2 singles record while Weisel upped his record to 9-5. Martins rounded out the singles winners with a 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (10-1) win over Howat at #3 singles to finish the season with an 11-3 record.

Rubin, Lukose and Connelly all dropped their final matches of the season to make the final score of the match 5-4. Rubin lost to Norris 10-3 at #4 singles while Lukose dropped his #5 singles match to Taibi 10-5. Mikolon defeated Connelly at #6 singles 10-3. Rubin and Connelly finish the season with identical 8-5 singles records while Lukose closed out his first year on the team with a 7-5 record.

The 2007-08 season marks the second consecutive year that the USP men’s tennis team has reached the ten-win mark. The Devils had an 11-2 record in 2006-07, the best single season effort ever by the men’s tennis program.

USP Earns Seventh Win with Sweep of Griffins (4/17/08)

The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia men's tennis team earned their seventh victory of the season Thursday afternoon with a 9-0 win over Chestnut Hill College at the McNeil Field Tennis Courts on USP's campus.

The Devils improve to 7-3 with the win. The Griffins fall to 7-10.

USP's doubles team of junior Paul Caceres (Bergen Catholic/ Teaneck, N.J.) and sophomore Dan Rubin (Neshaminy HS/Langhorne, Pa.) won their fifth straight match with an 8-1 pro-set win over Jim Stewart and garret Senior at #2 doubles. Caceres and Rubin are now 5-0 as a doubles team on the season. Senior Tyler Weisel (Greater Latrobe Sr. HS/Greensburg, Pa.) and sophomore Ricardo Martins (Idegio Pentagono/Sao Paulo, Brazil) also continued their winning ways with an 8-4 win over Carson Richter and Shane Lesher at #1 doubles. Weisel and Martins are now 8-1 as a doubles team on the season. Sophomore Ken Connelly (Sacred Heart HS/Millville, N.J.) and freshman Chris Lukose (Lassiter HS/ Marietta, Ga.) teamed up for the first time this season to complete the doubles sweep with an 8-0 win over Kyle DeReimer and Mike Maccherone.

In singles competition, Caceres improved his record to a team-best 8-2 with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Lesher at #2 singles. Martins upped his record to 8-3 on the season by defeating Stewart 6-0, 6-0 at the #3 singles slot. Lukose defeated DeReimer 6-1, 6-1 at #5 singles while Rubin defeated senior at #4 singles 6-2, 7-5. Lukose and Rubin improve to 6-4 on the season. Connelly also improved to 6-4 on the season with an 8-1 pro-set win over Maccherone at #6 singles. Completing the sweep was Weisel, who defeated Richter, 8-5 at #1 singles. Weisel is now 6-5 on the season.

The Devils return to action on Friday, April 18, 2008 with a 2:00 p.m. home match against Post University.

Devils Back on Winning Track with a Victory over Arcadia (4/16/08)

The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia men's tennis team got back on the winning track with a 6-3 win over Arcadia University at the McNeil Field Tennis Courts in Philadelphia.

USP improves to 6-3 overall with the win.

The Devils started off the contest with a sweep of the three doubles matches. Senior Tyler Weisel (Greater Latrobe Sr. HS/Greensburg, Pa.) and sophomore Ricardo Martins (Idegio Pentagono/Sao Paulo, Brazil) defeated Tim Fitzgerald and Bart Blankenship, 8-5 at #1 doubles while junior Paul Caceres (Bergen Catholic/ Teaneck, N.J.) and sophomore Dan Rubin (Neshaminy HS/Langhorne, Pa.) were an 8-0 winner over Adrell Dalson and Danny Ly and #2 doubles. Sophomore Ken Connelly (Sacred Heart HS/Millville, N.J.) and freshman Jason Chen (John P. Stevens HS/Edison, N.J.) completed the doubles sweep with an 8-6 win over Gulang Lui and Eshaq Mohtasebzadah at #3 doubles.

In the singles competition, Martins defeated Dalson 6-0, 6-0 at #2 singles while Caceres was a 6-0, 6-1 winner over Blankenship at the number three slot. Connelly was an 8-0 pro-set winner over Alex Shindnes at #5 singles to round out the Devils three singles winners.

Weisel lost to Fitzgerald in a tiebreaker 2-6, 7-5, 0-1 (7-10) at the number one slot. Rubin also lost his match at number four singles in a tiebreaker, falling to Ly, 4-6, 6-3, 0-1 (6-10). Lui rounded out the Arcadia winners with a 9-7 pro-set win at number six singles over Chen.

USP returns to action with a match against Chestnut Hill College on Thursday, April 17, 2008 at the McNeil Field Courts on campus. First serve is set for 3:00 p.m.

Devils Defeat Golden Rams (4/2/08)

The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia men's tennis team swept all six singles matches as they defeated West Chester University 8-1 Wednesday afternoon in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

The win improves the Devils record to 5-2 on the season.

Winning at #1 singles was senior Tyler Weisel (Greater Latrobe Sr. HS/Greensburg, Pa.). Weisel defeated Matt Thomas 6-2, 6-1 to improve to 5-3 overall on the season. Junior Paul Caceres (Bergen Catholic/ Teaneck, N.J.) defeated Pete Braun at #2 singles and improved his singles mark to 5-2. Playing at the number three slot for the first time this season, sophomore Ricardo Martins (Idegio Pentagono/Sao Paulo, Brazil) won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3 over John Howanski and upped his overall record to 5-3.

Freshman Chris Lukose (Lassiter HS/ Marietta, Ga.) and sophomores Dan Rubin (Neshaminy HS/Langhorne, Pa.) and Ken Connelly (Sacred Heart HS/Millville, N.J.) rounded out USP's singles winners. Lukose was a 6-3, 7-5 winner over Alan Day at #4 singles. Rubin won at #5 singles, defeating Geoff Brockman, 6-4, 6-4, while Connelly defeated William Ensor at #6 singles, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Weisel and Martins remained undefeated (6-0) in doubles dual match competition this season, starting the match off with an 8-5 win over Thomas and Braun at #1 doubles and Caceres and Rubin swept Howanski and Day 8-0 at #2 doubles. Freshman Jason Chen (John P. Stevens HS/Edison, N.J.) and Lukose however dropped their #3 doubles contest to Brockman and Ensor, 8-2 for West Chester's lone point of the match.

The Devils return to action on Thursday, April 3, 2008 when they take on Philadelphia University at the McNeil Field courts. Start time for the match is 2:30 p.m.

Devils Sweep by Bloomfield (3/15/08)

The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia men's tennis team won their second consecutive match, defeating host Bloomfield College on Saturday 9-0.

USP improves to 4-2 overall with the win. Bloomfield falls to 0-2.

The Devils opened the match with a 3-0 sweep in doubles competition. The team of senior Tyler Weisel (Greater Latrobe Sr. HS/Greensburg, Pa.)and sophomore Dan Rubin (Neshaminy HS/Langhorne, Pa.) defeated Evan McCall and Jamal Loper 8-1 at #1 doubles. At #2 doubles, sophomore Ricardo Martins (Idegio Pentagono/Sao Paulo, Brazil) and freshman Chris Lukose (Lassiter HS/ Marietta, Ga.) teamed up to defeat Marcus Sussman and Bhaumik Patel , 8-2. Sophomore Ken Connelly (Sacred Heart HS/Millville, N.J.) and freshman Jason Chen (John P. Stevens HS/Edison, N.J.) rounded out the doubles winners with an 8-3 win over Ken Bayer and Luis Perez at #3 doubles.

In singles competition, Weisel improved to 4-3 on the season with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Patel at #1 singles. Martins also improved his record to 4-3 with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Sussman at #2 singles. Lukose, making his first start at #3 singles, defeated Bayer, 6-4, 6-0 while Connolly was a 6-2, 7-5 winner over Loper at #4 singles. Rubin moved up to #5 singles, shutting out McCall 6-0, 6-0 and Chen, making his first collegiate singles start, defeated Perez in tiebreaker, 6-1, 6-7, (10-7).

The Devils will return to action on Thursday, March 27, 2008 when they travel to face West Chester University.

Devils Start Spring Season Off with a Win (3/12/08)

The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia men's tennis team opened their spring season Tuesday afternoon with a 9-0 win over Eastern University in Radnor, Pennsylvania.

After a 2-2 fall season, the win, improves the Devils record to 3-2 overall. Eastern falls to 0-6.

USP's doubles team of senior Tyler Weisel (Greater Latrobe Sr. HS/Greensburg, Pa.) and sophomore Ricardo Martins (Idegio Pentagono/Sao Paulo, Brazil) defeated Eric Walter and Taylor Kiser at #1 doubles, 8-3 while junior Paul Caceres (Bergen Catholic/ Teaneck, N.J.) and sophomore Dan Rubin (Neshaminy HS/Langhorne, Pa.) teamed up for the first time this season to defeat Dan Wilson and Sean McGinness at #2 doubles, 8-0. Also teaming up for the first time were freshman Jason Chen (John P. Stevens HS/Edison, N.J.) and sophomore Ken Connelly (Sacred Heart HS/Millville, N.J.) at #3 doubles as they defeated Jonathan Falcone and Josh Hall 8-7 (7-2), giving the Devils an early 3-0 lead in the match.

In singles matches, Martins recorded a straight set 6-1, 6-0 win over Wilson at #2 singles while Caceres defeated Kiser 6-2, 6-0 at #3 singles. At the #1 singles slot, Weisel defeated Walter 6-3, 6-4. Connolly triumphed over McGinness at #4 singles, 6-3, 6-2 while freshman Chris Lukose (Lassiter HS/ Marietta, Ga.) defeated Hall 6-0, 6-3 at #5 singles. Rubin completed the sweep with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Falcone at the #6 singles slot.

The men's tennis team returns to action on Saturday, March 15, 2008 when they travel to New Jersey to take on Bloomfield College.

Devils Earn Win over Marauders (10/13/07)

The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia men's tennis team concluded the fall portion of their season on Saturday with a 7-2 win over the Millersville University Marauders at the McNeil Field Courts in Philadelphia.

The win evens the Devils record at 2-2.

USP jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage by sweeping all three doubles matches. The team of senior Tyler Weisel (Greater Latrobe Sr. HS/Greensburg, Pa.) and sophomore Ricardo Martins (Idegio Pentagono/Sao Paulo, Brazil) remained undefeated in dual match competition with an 8-3 pro-set win over Drew Slocum and Chris Matisse at #1 doubles. Weisel and Martins improved their dual match record to 4-0 and their overall record in the fall to 4-1. Junior Paul Caceres (Bergen Catholic/ Teaneck, N.J.) and freshman Chris Lukose (Lassiter HS/ Marietta, Ga.) defeated Corbin Holland and Dusty Speicher, 8-2 at #2 doubles while sophomores Ken Connelly (Sacred Heart HS/Millville, N.J.) and Dan Rubin (Neshaminy HS/Langhorne, Pa.) defeated Devin Frey and Marty O'Hora, 8-2 at #3 doubles.

In singles competition, Caceres handed Speicher a 6-2, 6-0 loss at #3 singles while Rubin was a 6-2, 6-3 winner at #6 singles over Sean Pyle. Lukose also won in straight sets, defeating Frey, 6-3, 6-4 at #5 singles. Weisel gave the Devils their final point of the afternoon, splitting the first two sets with Slocum by identical 6-3 scores before winning the 10-point tiebreaker game 10-8 to take the match.

Millersville got wins from Matisse at #2 singles and Holland at #4 singles. Matisse took Martins to a tiebreaker, after losing the first set 6-4 and coming back to win the second set 7-5. Matisse then took the tiebreaker 10-8 to win the match. Holland defeated Connolly in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.

The Devils next match will be during the Spring 2008 semester.

Devils Kick off 07-08 Campaign with a Win (9/20/07)

The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia men's tennis team took up where they left off in the spring of 2007, with a win. The Devils opened the 2007-08 campaign with a 9-0 defeat of West Chester University at West Chester's South Campus Courts.

Starting off the match with doubles competition, the team of senior Tyler Weisel (Greater Latrobe Sr. HS/Greensburg, Pa.) and sophomore Ricardo Martins (Idegio Pentagono/Sao Paulo, Brazil) recorded an 8-3 pro-set win over Andrew Pollack and Peter Braun at #1 doubles. Junior Paul Caceres (Bergen Catholic/ Teaneck, N.J.) and freshman Chris Lukose (Lassiter HS/ Marietta, Ga.) were 8-4 victors over Jared Raben and John Howanski at #2 doubles. Sophomores Ken Connelly (Sacred Heart HS/Millville, N.J.) and Dan Rubin (Neshaminy HS/Langhorne, Pa.) completed the doubles sweep with an 8-4 win over Mike Mullholland and Geoffrey Brockman at #3 doubles.

In singles, Weisel recorded a 6-1, 6-3 win over Pollack at #1 singles while Martins defeated Braun at #2 singles by an identical 6-1, 6-3 score. Caceres, now playing at #3 singles, defeated Raben, 6-0, 6-1 while Connolly, having moved up to the #4 singles slot, handed Howanski a 6-2, 6-3 loss. With the onset of darkness, the final two matches became pro-set contests with Lukose recording an 8-2 win over Mullholland at #5 singles and Rubin an 8-3 decision over Ronald Shapson at #6 singles.

The Devils are at home for the next match as they face Millersville University on Saturday, September 22, 2007.