DUDLEY, Mass. – The Nichols College men's tennis team will take on UMass Boston in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine on Thursday at 1:00 p.m.

The Bison (18-3) knocked off top seeded Eastern Nazarene in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship on Sunday, 5-3, to earn their sixth-consecutive championship and trip to the NCAA Tournament.

"I'm really excited about the way the draws shook out for our team. UMass Boston is a talented young team, but I feel like we have a significant edge in experience," said Nichols head coach Paul Brower. "It has been a couple of years since we met head to head but we have enjoyed some solid matches and results against them in years past."

Nichols is led by sophomore Blake Norton (Stratford, Conn.) who was named to the CCC First Team in both singles and doubles. Norton enters the NCAA Tournament with a 17-4 singles record and 13-6 doubles record. His doubles partner sophomore Brandon Howard (Hamden, Conn.) – who was also named CCC First Team-Doubles to go along with CCC Second Team-Singles – is 11-9 in singles-play so far this year.

Howard's classmate Guilherme Barbosa (Bradenton, Fla.) was honored to the CCC Third Team-Singles as well as the CCC Second Team-Doubles along with senior partner James Smith (Monte Sereno, Calif.). Smith was also named CCC Third Team-Singles.

The Beacons (10-7) punched their ticket into the NCAA Tournament by defeating UMass Dartmouth, 5-2, in the Little East Conference Championship. The championship was just the third in program history (2017, 2013, 1990).

The last time the Beacons were in the NCAA Tournament was in 2013 – coincidentally that year was the only time that the Bison and Beacons matched up – with Nichols defeating UMass Boston, 9-0, in Orlando, Fla.

"All and all I am excited for our seniors on both sides. People like Smitty, Cristina, Jake and others deserve to go out fighting at the highest level and this year both teams have that opportunity," said Brower. "It's been an amazing year and I am truly proud of these teams."

The winner of Thursday's match will play the regional host and defending National Champions Bowdoin (18-4) on Friday at 8:00 a.m.