WINTER PARK, Fla. - The Kennesaw State men's tennis team won their second match in as many days today, as they held off St. Joseph's University (1-8) for a 6-1 win on the campus of Rollins College.  The win gives the Owls (7-6) their first win over an Atlantic 10 school in the program's short four-year history. 

Overcoming a dubious distinction, the Owls picked up the win at No. 1 doubles for the first time this season, with the team of Simon Janik and Michael Browder picking up the victory at the top spot, downing the pair of Tommy Gates and Dan Barrus, 8-4.  The Owls had been 0-12 so far this season at the top spot.  The Owls had already picked up a speedy victory at No. 3 by the team of Alex Toliver and Matthew Johnson, who powered past Kristian Broaddus and Paranjay Malhotra, 8-1.  It raises the freshmen duo's record to 2-0.

The Owls raced to quick victories at No. 1 and No. 5 to put themselves ahead of the Hawks, 3-0.  Toliver won in straight sets at the top spot for the second straight match, downing Alex Veronis, 6-2, 6-3.  At No. 5, Alexander Pena continued a successful swing in the sunshine state, winning his third straight match, 6-3, 6-4 over Paul Ganev.  The Owls finally clinched the match when Gianni Kubin came from behind to defeat Peter Cognetti at No. 4, downing the Hawk senior, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.  Adding the fifth point for the Owls was Gokalp Ozdemir, who won a grueling straight set match which stretched over two hours, besting Barrus 7-5, 6-2.

The match of the day for the Owls, however, featured freshmen reserve Matthew Johnson, who filled in at the No. 6 spot when senior Simon Janik sat out of the singles due to illness, moving Ozdemir, Kubin and Pena all up one spot.  Johnson dropped a tight first set to Broaddus before roaring back for a 6-1 win in the second.  The third set saw massive swings of momentum, as Johnson fell behind 5-2 in the set and 40-15 on Broaddus' serve.  Johnson fought back to take the next five games, including facing four match points, to pick up the win 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 in just under three hours.  The most memorable point of the season saw Johnson facing a match point at 5-4 down in the final set, when his opponent hit what appeared to be the winning shot, when Johnson slapped a forehand on the run past a stunned Broaddus for a clean winner down the line.

"That was one of the most exciting matches I have seen in my years of coaching," indicated Head Coach #T.J. Greggs#. "I am really proud of Matt for showing so much poise, especially against an opponent with three years of college experience.  He's been doing great things this week, and I am excited about his future at KSU."

The Owls will look to ride the momentum of their two-match winning streak when they finish their Spring Break trip at Bethune Cookman University on Friday.  First serve is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. in Daytona Beach.

KENNESAW STATE 6, ST. JOSEPH'S 1

Doubles
1) Michael Browder/Simon Janik (KSU) def. Gates/Barrus (SJU) 8-4
2) Veronis/Cognetti (SJU) def. Theodor/Ozdemir (KSU) 8-3
3) Johnson/Toliver (KSU) def. Paranjay Malhotra/Broaddus (SJU) 8-1
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1

Singles
1) Alex Toliver (KSU) def. Alex Veronis (SJU) 6-2, 6-3
2) Tommy Gates (SJU) def. Louis Theodor (KSU) 6-7(2), 7-5, 1-0(7)
3) Gokalp Ozdemir (KSU) def. Dan Barrus (SJU) 7-5, 6-2
4) Gianni Kubin (KSU) def. Peter Cognetti (SJU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
5) Alexander Pena (KSU) def. Paul Ganev (SJU) 6-3, 6-4
6) Matthew Johnson (KSU) def. Kristian Broaddus (SJU) 3-6, 6-1, 7-5
Order of Finish: 1, 5, 4, 3, 2, 6