SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 21) – The Nichols College men's tennis team clinched the The Commonwealth Coast Conference regular season title Thursday afternoon with a 5-4 victory at Western New England. The Bison wrap up conference action with a perfect 11-0 record, and improve to 14-4 overall. The Golden Bears dip to 13-4 overall and 9-2 in league matches.

Western New England held a 2-1 lead after doubles play with decisive wins at the first and third spots. Brian Relihan and Mike Jones dealt Steve Carella (Rocky Hill, Conn.) and Eliot Wuhrmann (Fontainebleau, France) an 8-3 loss at the top flight, while Matt Minahan and Shawn Fitzpatrick defeated David Drucker (Bellmore, N.Y.) and Piotr Pietruczuk (Norwich, Conn.), 8-4. Daniel Young (Washington Depot, Conn.) and Isiah Prosper (Manchester, Conn.) finished out doubles play by edging out Chris Holzinger and JonPaul Ouellette, 8-6, for the Bison's lone point.

Wuhrmann and Prosper were the first to finish their singles matches, with Wuhrmann posting a 6-3, 6-0 fifth flight win and Prosper netting a 6-2, 6-1 victory at the fourth spot to knot up the match. Drucker followed at the top flight with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Relihan before Pietruczuk finished off Tim Santye, 6-1, 6-2, after a lengthy battle for match point.

Western New England got two points back at the second and third flights, as Jones took a three-set match from Carella at the second spot, 6-2, 0-6, 6-3, and Holzinger defeated Young at third singles, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.

Nichols will be the top seed in the upcoming TCCC tournament and will retain home court throughout the entirety of the tournament. The Bison will host eighth-seeded Wentworth for the quarterfinals on Monday, April 25 at 3 p.m. The semifinals are scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 25th, followed by the championship at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 30th.


Tennis Match Results
Nichols vs Western New England College
04/21/11 at Springfield, Mass.
Nichols 5, Western New England College 4
Singles competition
1. David Drucker (NC) def. Brian Relihan (WNEC) 6-2, 6-0
2. Mike Jones (WNEC) def. Steve Carella (NC) 6-2, 0-6, 6-3
3. Chris Holzinger (WNEC) def. Daniel Young (NC) 7-6 (8-6), 6-2
4. Isiah Prosper (NC) def. JonPaul Ouellette (WNEC) 6-2, 6-1
5. Eliot Wuhrmann (NC) def. Matt Minahan (WNEC) 6-3, 6-0
6. Piotr Pietruczuk (NC) def. Tim Santye (WNEC) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Brian Relihan/Mike Jones (WNEC) def. Steve Carella/Eliot Wuhrmann (NC) 8-3
2. Daniel Young/Isiah Prosper (NC) def. Chris Holzinger/JonPaul Ouellette (WNEC) 8-6
3. Matt Minahan/Shawn Fitzpatrick (WNEC) def. David Drucker/Piotr Pietruczuk (NC) 8-4
Match Notes:
Nichols 14-4, 11-0 TCCC
Western New England College 13-4, 9-2 TCCC
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (5,4,1,6,2,3)
The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) match