Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. –The Nichols College men's tennis team shut down Springfield College 9-0 in non-conference play on Monday afternoon at Appleton Courts.

The Bison had no trouble with the Pride, winning every match in straight sets on their way to improving to 2-0 this fall. The Pride fall to 0-1.

In doubles action, the No. 1 team of junior Brandon Roode (Griswold, Conn.) and sophomore Carlos De La Cruz (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) defeated freshman Tanner DaVarenness (Lee, Mass.) and senior Joe Giannelli (Watertown, Conn.), 8-1.  Sophomore Josh Halpern (Secaucus, N.J.) and freshman James Smith topped freshman Justin Danielewicz (Portland, Conn.) and freshman Kyle Beynor (Prospect, Conn.) at No. 2 doubles, 8-2. 

The most even doubles match of the afternoon came at the No. 3 spot with freshman Joan Castillo and junior Cam Lewis (Bolton, Mass.) edged sophomore Joshua Robinson (Southold, N.Y.) and junior Cody Rodrigues (Westfield, Mass.), 8-5.

In singles action, Roode defeated DaVarenness at the No. 1 pairing, 6-4, 6-3, while De La Cruz bested Giannelli 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2.  Castillo beat Danielewicz at No. 3, 6-3, 6-4, while No. 4 singles saw Halpern defeat Beynor 6-0, 6-1.

Freshman Jake Zapatka completely shut down Rodrigues at No. 5, winning 6-0, 6-0. Freshman James Smith rounded out the evening by defeating Robinson, 6-1, 6-2.


"This was a solid non-conference win for us," said Nichols head coach Paul Brower. "Jake continues his stellar play for us, and Brandon shook off a tough start to pick up a good win."

The Bison host Assumption next Monday at 3:00 p.m. at the Robinson Tennis Courts. The Pride will host Endicott on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.