DUDLEY, Mass. – The Roger Williams men's tennis team completed a perfect The Commonwealth Coast Conference season with an 8-1 victory over Nichols Thursday afternoon, finishing the year with a 9-0 record in conference play. The Hawks' performance was highlighted by a three-set comeback win by senior No. 1 singles player Brad Bolte, who also teamed up with junior Kyle Baker for a win at No. 2 doubles.
Nichols (12-7, 5-4 TCCC) received its point in a hard-fought marathon at third singles by sophomore Jack Baker (Cheshire, Conn.), who after dropping the first set, 2-6, came back to win the second in a tiebreak, 7-6 (7-3) before holding on for a 10-8 super tiebreak win over Jeff DeNunzio as the final match to finish.
The Hawks held a 3-0 lead after doubles, and picked up straight-set wins at second, fourth, fifth and sixth singles before the Bolte and Nichols first-year player Stephen Carella (Rocky Hill, Conn.) battled it out on the top court. With an 8-0 lead in hand, Jack Baker and DeNunzio were left to finish at third singles.
Roger Williams, the top seed in the upcoming TCCC Championship Tournament, will host eighth seeded Gordon Saturday in the quarterfinal round. Nichols, the fifth seed in the Tournament, will travel to the fourth seed Colby-Sawyer for the quarterfinals Saturday at 12 p.m.
Tennis Match Results
Roger Williams vs Nichols
04/16/09 at Dudley, Mass.
Roger Williams 8, Nichols 1
Singles competition:
1. Brad Bolte (RWU) def. Stephen Carella (NC) 6-3, 0-6, 1-0 (10-4)
2. Ryan Kim (RWU) def. Tyler McLaughlin (NC) 6-1, 6-3
3. Jack Baker (NC) def. Jeff DeNunzio (RWU) 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (10-8)
4. David Lange (RWU) def. Eliot Wuhrmann (NC) 6-2, 6-1
5. Dan Kleitz (RWU) def. Oliver McNutt (NC) 6-0, 6-4
6. Kyle Baker (RWU) def. Dan Saucier (NC) 7-5, 6-3
Doubles competition:
1. Dan Kleitz/Jeff DeNunzio (RWU) def. Jack Baker/Tyler McLaughlin (NC) 8-5
2. Brad Bolte/Kyle Baker (RWU) def. Stephen Carella/Oliver McNutt (NC) 8-5
3. Ryan Kim/Jeffrey Agonia (RWU) def. Eliot Wuhrmann/Dan Saucier (NC) 8-5
Match Notes:
Roger Williams 14-6 (9-0)
Nichols 12-7 (5-4)
T-2:40 A-42
