POMFRET, Conn. (Mar. 8) – The Nichols College men's tennis team opened the 2012 spring season with an 8-1 victory over Wheaton College in a match played at the Pomfret School indoor courts. The Bison swept the doubles side and used quick wins on the singles side from newcomers Brandon Roode and Arsen Gasparyan to clinch the match.

Roode and senior Steve Carella posted an 8-6 win at the top doubles flight, as did senior Dan Saucier and sophomore Isiah Prosper at the third flight. Senior David Drucker and Gasparyan cruised to an 8-4 win at second doubles.

Gasparyan was the first to finish on the singles side with a 6-1, 6-1 win at the fourth flight over Samuel Jackson. Roode followed to clinch the match with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Ned Terrace at the second flight. Wheaton got a point back in a super tiebreak at the top flight as Neall Oliver came back against Drucker for a 3-6, 6-1 1-0 (10-7) win. Carella finished out a tiebreak win against Daniel Sharon, winning 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) at the third flight before Prosper and Saucier claimed pro set victories.

Nichols travels to Babson Saturday for a 6 p.m. match before heading to Puerto Rico March 12 for a three-match trip.

Tennis Match Results
Wheaton College vs Nichols
03/08/12 at Pomfret, Conn
(Pomfret School)

Nichols 8, Wheaton College 1

Singles competition
1. Neall Oliver (WHE) def. David Drucker (NC) 3-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-7)
2. Brandon Roode (NC) def. Ned Terrace (WHE) 6-1, 6-0
3. Steve Carella (NC) def. Daniel Sharon (WHE) 6-3, 7-6 (8-6)
4. Arsen Gasparyan (NC) def. Samuel Jackson (WHE) 6-1, 6-1
5. Isiah Prosper (NC) def. Lawrence Chan (WHE) 8-2
6. Dan Saucier (NC) def. William Beaton (WHE) 8-1

Doubles competition
1. Steve Carella/Brandon Roode (NC) def. Neall Oliver/Daniel Sharon (WHE) 8-6
2. David Drucker/Arsen Gasparyan (NC) def. Lawrence Chan/Ned Terrace (WHE) 8-4
3. Dan Saucier/Isiah Prosper (NC) def. William Beaton/Samuel Jackson (WHE) 8-6

Match Notes:
Wheaton College 1-1
Nichols 2-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,2,1,3,5,6)
Official: Mike Kalinowski  T-3:05  A-45