AMHERST, Mass. (May 12) – The Nichols College men's tennis team's historic season came to a close Saturday morning as the Bison fell, 5-0, to defending national champion Amherst in the second round of the 2012 NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championship. The Bison set program records for wins in a season (18) and consecutive victories (17), and won the first NCAA event in any sport at the College before facing the top-ranked Lord Jeffs (30-2). Nichols ends its season at 18-4.

Austin Chafetz and Luis Rattenhuber, the region's top-ranked doubles pair, quickly dispensed the Bison's top doubles pair of Steve Carella and Brandon Roode, 8-0, before Wes Waterman and late change Joey Fritz defeated Isiah Prosper and Justin Deluca at the third flight, 8-3.

David Drucker and Arsen Gasparyan gave Andrew Jung and Mark Kahan a great battle at the second flight, eventually succumbing, 8-4.

Leading 3-0 after doubles, Chafetz and Waterman quickly went ahead a set at the second and sixth singles flights without surrendering a point. Prosper and Fritz exchanged power shots throughout their first set, with Fritz emerging with a 6-2 set.

Chafetz finished first to give the Jeffs a 4-0 lead, besting Drucker 6-0, 6-0.

Meanwhile, Roode and Kahan, the top-ranked player in the ITA Regional Rankings, played some long rallies, both breaking each other's serve. Roode took a 6-5 upper hand after winning three-straight games on two services, but Waterman clinched the match with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Carella before the pair could finish their first set. 

Rattenhuber took the first set from Gasparyan, 6-2, and Jung was up on Deluca, 5-2, when play was halted.

Amherst advances to the third round Sunday where the Jeffs will face the winner of Vassar and TCNJ. Amherst extends its win streak to 15, and is looking to make the College's fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA title match.

Tennis Match Results
Nichols vs Amherst College
05/12/12 at Amherst, Mass.

#1 Amherst College 5, Nichols 0

Singles competition
1. Mark Kahan (AMH) vs. Brandon Roode (NC) 5-6, unfinished
2. Austin Chafetz (AMH) def. David Drucker (NC) 6-0, 6-0
3. Luis Rattenhuber (AMH) vs. Arsen Gasparyan (NC) 6-2, unfinished
4. Joey Fritz (AMH) vs. Isiah Prosper (NC) 6-2, 2-0, unfinished
5. Andrew Jung (AMH) vs. Justin Deluca (NC) 5-2, unfinished
6. Wes Waterman (AMH) def. Steve Carella (NC) 6-0, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Austin Chafetz/Luis Rattenhuber (AMH) def. Steve Carella/Brandon Roode (NC) 8-0
2. Andrew Jung/Mark Kahan (AMH) def. David Drucker/Arsen Gasparyan (NC) 8-4
3. Wes Waterman/Joey Fritz (AMH) def. Isiah Prosper/Justin Deluca (NC) 8-3

Match Notes:
Nichols 18-4
Amherst College 30-2; National ranking #1; Regional ranking #1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,6)
2012 NCAA DIII Men's Tennis Championship Second Round
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