DUDLEY, Mass. (April 27) – The top-seeded Nichols College men's tennis team held onto a 2-1 lead after doubles play to defeat fourth-seeded Endicott, 5-2, in the The Commonwealth Coast Conference semifinals at the Francis W. Robinson Courts Wednesday afternoon. The Bison, who improve to 16-4 overall, return to the TCCC finals for the first time since 2002. Endicott sees its season come to an end at 11-8.

The Bison will host the winner of third-seeded Western New England and second-seeded Roger Williams on Saturday, April 30, at 1 p.m. Nichols defeated both opponents during the regular season, winning both matches by 5-4 scores.

The Gulls got the first point with an 8-6 doubles win at the top flight from Zach Arpey and Devon Locke. Nichols' David Drucker (Bellmore, N.Y.) and Eliot Wuhrmann (Fontainebleau, France) evened the score with an 8-6 third doubles win before Daniel Young (Washington Depot, Conn.) and Isiah Prosper (Manchester, Conn.) finished off their 8-6 second doubles victory on seventh match point.

Steve Carella (Rocky Hill, Conn.) avenged a regular-season loss to Locke at the second singles flight and put the Bison up by two with a quick 6-1, 6-1 victory.

Oliver Joggi followed with the Gulls' final point of the day at the third singles flight, defeating Tyler McLaughlin (Hollis, N.H.), 6-3, 6-0.

Drucker gave the Bison back their two-point cushion with a 6-2, 6-2 win at the top spot, defeating Porter Williams, 6-2, 6-2, before Wuhrmann clinched the match at the sixth flight, defeating Jake Cohen, 6-1, 6-4.

Nichols' most recent TCCC title came in 2001, a 5-4 victory at Salve Regina. The Bison were crowned conference champions in 2000 and 1996 during tournament-style play, prior to the move to dual-match format.

Tennis Match Results
Endicott College vs Nichols
04/27/11 at Dudley, Mass.
(Francis W. Robinson Courts)

Nichols 5, Endicott College 2

Singles competition
1. David Drucker (NC) def. Porter Williams (EC) 6-2, 6-2
2. Steve Carella (NC) def. Devon Locke (EC) 6-1, 6-1
3. Olivier Joggi (EC) def. Tyler McLaughlin (NC) 6-3, 6-0
4. Daniel Young (NC) vs. Zach Arpey (EC) 7-6, 1-2 (7-5), unfinished
5. Isiah Prosper (NC) vs. Evan Ross (EC) 6-4, 4-3, unfinished
6. Eliot Wuhrmann (NC) def. Jake Cohen (EC) 6-1, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Devon Locke/Zach Arpey (EC) def. Steve Carella/Tyler McLaughlin (NC) 8-6
2. Isiah Prosper/Daniel Young (NC) def. Olivier Joggi/Evan Ross (EC) 8-6
3. Eliot Wuhrmann/David Drucker (NC) def. Porter Williams/Jake Cohen (EC) 8-6

Match Notes:
Endicott College 11-8, 8-3
Nichols 16-4, 11-0
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,3,1,6)
TCCC Semifinal
#1 Nichols will host #3 WNEC/#2 Roger Williams winner in TCCC Championship
Official: Tom Fayed T-2:45 A-30