Box Score

POMFRET, Conn. – The Nichols College men's tennis team defeated local Division I foe Holy Cross by a score of 7-0 at Pomfret School on Thursday afternoon. The match was played using the seven-point scoring format utilized by Division I.
 
The Bison swept the doubles session beginning with first-year Josh Halpern (Secaucus, N.J.) and newcomer Carlos De La Cruz (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) claiming the third flight, 8-0. Sophomore Brandon Roode (Griswold, Conn.) and first-year Eduardo Irizarry (Lajas, Puerto Rico) kept the momentum going with an 8-1 triumph at the top flight. Graduate student David Drucker (Bellmore, N.Y.) and senior Justin DeLuca (Mashpee, Mass.) teamed up at the second flight to down their opponents, 8-5.
 
Halpern posted a 6-2, 6-0 win over sophomore Rob Buetti (Bay Shore, N.Y.) at the sixth singles flight for the hosts second point of the match. Regionally-ranked Roode topped sophomore Nick Berrettini (Haverford, Pa.) 6-3, 6-0 at the first singles spot while De La Cruz took down freshman Rich DeGregoris (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) 6-4, 6-3 at the fifth flight to seal the Bison victory. DeLuca added a 6-1, 6-1 win at the second flight and Irizarry recorded a 6-0, 6-1 victory at the third flight before Drucker completed the sweep with a 6-1, 6-0 triumph at the fourth flight.

"It was a solid start for program," commented head coach Paul Brower. "We played solid doubles and carried the momentum into singles play. Eduardo was absolutely dominant and Brandon did a great job in knocking off an opponent who beat him last year."
 
Nichols (4-2) packs its bags for a five-match spring break trip in Orlando, Fla. beginning on Monday. The Bison are slated to face Mass.-Boston and Division I Connecticut on the first day of the trip. Holy Cross (0-3) ventures to Army on Friday, March 22 for an 8:00 p.m. Patriot League match.