DUDLEY, Mass. (Sept. 19) – The Nichols College men's tennis team fell to Division I Holy Cross, 6-3, in the Bison's fall season opener Saturday afternoon at the Francis W. Robinson Courts. Sophomore Dan Saucier (Newington, Conn.) posted a win at No. 6 singles and teamed up with Tyler McLaughlin (Hollis, N.H.) for a third doubles victory.

Saucier defeated Tom Steinert, 6-2, 6-4, in the sixth flight. First year Justin Deluca (Mashpee, Mass.) won his collegiate debut with a 6-2, 6-1 win over John Burke at No. 2 singles.

Daniel Young (Washington Depot, Conn.) and Eliot Wuhrmann (Fontainbleau, France) played a marathon match at second doubles, falling in a tiebreak to Dan Phelan and Chris Das. Das took Young to a tiebreak at fourth singles, edging the rookie, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (7-2).

Nichols is back in action on October 1, when the Bison host area-rival Assumption in a 4 p.m. match.

Tennis Match Results
Holy Cross vs Nichols
09/19/2009 at Dudley, Mass.
(Francis W. Robinson Courts)

Holy Cross 6, Nichols 3

 Singles competition
1. Matt Wierzel (HC) def. Steve Carella (NC) 6-1, 6-1
2. Justin DeLuca (NC) def. John Burke (HC) 6-2, 6-1
3. Dan Phelan (HC) def. Tyler McLaughlin (NC) 6-1, 6-4
4. Chris Das (HC) def. Daniel Young (NC) 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (7-2)
5. Ajeva Shekar (HC) def. Eliot Wuhrmann (NC) 7-5, 6-4
6. Dan Saucier (NC) def. Tom Steinert (HC) 6-2, 6-4

 Doubles competition
1. Matt Wierzel/John Burke (HC) def. Steve Carella/Justin DeLuca (NC) 8-5
2. Dan Phelan/Chris Das (HC) def. Daniel Young/Eliot Wuhrmann (NC) 9-8 (7-5)
3. Tyler McLaughlin/Dan Saucier (NC) def. Tom Steinert/Dan Sheehan (HC) 8-4

Match Notes:
Holy Cross 1-0
Nichols 0-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,2,3,5,6,4)