NEW HAVEN, CONN. - Senior Joris Van Eck (Ospel, The Netherlands) and junior Dalen Klassen (St. Louis, Mo.) each won both of the pre-qualifying matches Thursday to advance into the singles' main draw of the ITA Regional Tournament.

Van Eck only gave up a total of six points in beating his opponent from St. Bonaventure 6-2, 6-1 and Sacred Heart 6-1, 6-2. Klassen easily defeated his adversary from Niagara 6-3, 6-0 before being pushed to a third set against one of Binghamton's top players 6-2, 5-7, 7-5.

Joseph Dube (Livonia, Mich.) also was looking to advance out of the pre-qualifying round for the second straight year, but fell just one match short. After beating his opponent from Fairleigh Dickinson 6-2, 6-2, he fell to a member of Army's squad in three sets 7-6, 3-6, 6-1.

"It was a super Thursday," Marist Head Coach Tim Smith said. "We won five out of six qualifying matches and now have four players in the main draw, a record for Marist in ITA tournaments."

Play continues Friday with the Round of 96 in singles' action as well as the first round of doubles. Lorenzo Rossi (Lugano, Switzerland) and Will Reznek (Toronto, Canada) will join in Van Eck and Klassen in the singles' pool. Additionally, the duos of Klassen and Billy Bishop (Houston, Texas) as well as Van Eck and Rossi will compete in doubles. The combination of Reznek and freshman Trym Nagelstad (Oslo, Norway) are the third alternates.

Thursday's Results

Singles' Pre-qualifying

Klassen (Marist) def. Dufour-Coursol (Niagara): 6-3, 6-0
Klassen (Marist) def. Bornkessel (Binghamton): 6-2, 5-7, 7-5

Van Eck (Marist) def. Guevara (St. Bonaventure): 6-2, 6-1
Van Eck (Marist) def. Pagan (Sacred Heart):  6-1, 6-2

Dube (Marist) def. Hemy (Fairleigh Dickinson): 6-2, 6-2
McCormick (Army) def. Dube (Marist): 7-6, 3-6, 6-1

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