Box ScoreORLANDO, Fla. – Senior
Brandon Roode (Griswold, Conn.) set the program's record for career singles wins as the Nichols College men's tennis team defeated the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 6-3 Sunday afternoon in non-conference action in Orlando, Fla.
Roode surpassed
Justin DeLuca (Mashpee, Mass.) with his 67th career singles win coming against Carlos Bruno of UPRM, 6-0, 6-2 at No. 1 singles.
"I am very proud of Brandon and all that he has accomplished," said Nichols head coach
Paul Brower. "When you think about all of the great players that have come through the school and for him to be on top of it shows you the caliber player he is."
Nichols (8-4) fell behind early, dropping two of the three doubles matches. Roode and freshman
Austin DuBois (Simsbury, Conn.) dropped a close one at No. 1 doubles 8-6 to Fabian Rodriguez and Bruno.
The Bison picked up the win at No. 2 doubles with junior
Josh Halpern (Secaucus, N.J.) and sophomore
James Smith (Monte Sereno, Calif.) teaming up to take down Daniel Almodovar and Alejandro Chardon, 8-5.
Kevin Ramos and Carlos Atienza earned the win at No. 3 doubles over sophomores
Joan Castillo (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) and
Jake Zapatka (Wethersfield, Conn.), 8-6.
Roode earned the first singles win to bring the match score even at two and then DuBois picked up the win at No. 6 singles over Jose Ayala 6-3, 6-1 to put the Bison in the lead. The Bison never relinquished that lead.
Smith defeated Rodriguez in a real back and forth match at No. 2 singles 7-5, 6-3. Zapatka took down Chardon 1-6, 6-1, 10-4 at No. 5 singles while Castillo defeated Almodovar in the fourth flight 6-2, 1-6, 10-7.
UPRM closed the day by winning No. 3 singles. Ramos defeated Halpern in a three-set thriller 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 10-4.
"This was a tough match against a very tough opponent," said Brower. "Roode's win at No. 1 singles really sparked the team and helped the team take care of business to close out the match."
The Bison return to action on Saturday when they play host to conference-foe Salve Regina at 1:00 p.m.
