The Saint Vincent men's tennis team opened the 2009 season with an upset victory over Waynesburg College, winning by a score of 5-4.

The day began with doubles action.   SVC's #3 doubles team of Tyler Camaione and Paul DiVincenzo battled in one of the day's closest matches, but fell by a score of 9-7.  The #2 team, Troy Smith and freshman Dan Chirdon, fell behind 5-0 in their match before fighting back but losing by an 8-5 tally.

The top doubles match featured seniors Zac Parkhill an Steve Filipiak, who came out on top 8-6. 

Waynesburg held the 2-1 match advantage after doubles play, setting up the singles matches.  

In the #1 spot, Parkhill rebounded after struggling in the first set (0-6), but lost in a second set in a tiebreaker, 7-6. 

At #2 singles, senior Smith exacted revenge for his doubles loss, dominating the first set, 6-0.  After going up 3-0, Smith later found himself in a 3-3 tie in the second set, before fighting back and finishing off the match, 6-3.  

Chirdon, in his first collegiate match, rallied and won in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4 in the #3 singles position.  In the #4 spot, DiVincenzo fought in one of the most exciting matches of the day.  He lost the first set, 6-4, but found his game in the second set, winning 6-3.  However, he lost a close third set, 7-5.    

Filipiak, another senior, was strong in the #5 spot.  He came out hitting hard shots and outplayed his opponent in the first set, 6-2.  The second set was a lot closer, but Filipiak hit skillful shots and won, 7-5.

The #6 singles match went the full three sets, as sophomore Meholic played smart in the first set, using well-placed lobs to win, 6-3.  After losing the second set by a similar 6-3 score, everything rested on the final set, and Meholic used his experience and skill to win by a score of 6-0 and secure the match win for Saint Vincent.

Coach Enrico Campi's Bearcats improved to 2-0 with a victory over visiting Westminster College in a match held at the Greensburg Racquet Club.   The final score was 7-2.

In doubles action, Saint Vincent picked up a pair of victories.  Zac Parkhill and Steve Filipiak won the #1 singles pairing, while Paul DiVincenzo and Chad Meholic were winners at the #3 doubles spot.

Parkhill was a double winner on the day, capturing his #1 singles event.  Dan Chirdon remained undefeated in his college career, picking up a win at #3 singles, while DiVincenzo was a winner in the #4 singles position.  He joined Filipiak and Meholic as two-time winners on the day, as they captured the #5 and #6 singles wins, respectively.

The Bearcats dropped three matches during their Spring Break trip to Florida.

The trip began with a visit to Northwood University, and the hosts were 9-0 winners.  Top performances for SVC were turned in by the doubles team of Zac Parkhill and Steve Filipiak, along with Dan Chirdon in the #3 singles spot.

Next up was Saint Thomas University, and the final score was again 9-0.  The doubles team of Troy Smith and Chirdon played well in the #2 position, along with the #3 team of Paul DiVincenzo and Tyler Camaione.

The trip concluded with a visit to Palm Beach Atlantic University, and SVC fell by a score of 9-0.  The doubles team of Chad Meholic and Camaione, and Camaione also played well in the #6 singles spot.

The Bearcats were defeated 9-0 by a strong Grove City College squad at the Greensburg Racquet Club.

The visiting Wolverines overpowered SVC, winning all six singles matches in two sets.  The Bearcats' top performance in singles play came in the number five spots, when Steve Filipiak dropped a pair of close sets in defeat, 7-5 and 6-4.

Filipiak also turned in a strong effort in doubles play, teaming with Zac Parkhill in an 8-5 defeat.

The Bearcats snapped their four-match losing streak with a 5-4 victory over visiting Notre Dame College (OH) at the Greensburg Racquet Club.

In singles play, the Bearcats dropped their first two matches of the afternoon, but then regrouped in a big way.  Daniel Chirdon continued his strong season in the number three spot, picking up a 6-3, 6-1 win. 

Steve Filipiak's match in the number five singles spot proved to be the match of the day.  After dropping his first set 3-6, Filipiak evened the match by winning a hard-fought second set 7-5.  He clinched the win by picking up a 6-4 win in the third and final set.

In the sixth singles spot, Tyler Camaione also used three sets for the victory - 6-3, 1-6, 6-1 - and the Bearcats entered doubles play tied 3-3.

Filipiak and Zac Parkhill won the first doubles match 8-5, and then the duo of Chirdon/Troy Smith clinched the win for SVC with an 8-2 victory in the number two doubles spot.

The Bearcats improved to 4-4 on the season with a victory over Bethany College on the road.  The final score was 6-3.

Saint Vincent started the day with a pair of doubles wins, coming from the top two spots.  The teams of Zac Parkhill/Steve Filipiak won the #1 doubles match, while the #2 match was captured by the team of Troy Smith/Dan Chirdon.

Chirdon was a double winner on the day, earning a victory in the #3 singles position.  Paul DiVincenzo was a winner at #4 singles, while Filipiak earned his second win on the day with a victory in the #5 singles spot.  Tyler Camaione won the #6 singles match to help the Bearcats to the 6-3 match win.   

The Bearcat men lost to Penn State-Altoona on the road by a score of 7-2.

Dan Chirdon was a two-time winner on the day, capturing his #3 singles match, and teaming with Troy Smith for a win at the #1 doubles position.   In singles, Chirdon went to a third-set tiebreaker to earn the win.