BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams men's tennis team (1-2) earned its first win of the season Thursday with an exciting 5-4 victory over visiting Springfield College. Junior Jay Dono (West Boylston, Mass.) won the deciding match in No. 2 singles with a three-set victory over Trevor Romanzi (Bayshore, N.Y.), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

 

Dono and teammate Brad Bolte (Augusta, N.J.) faced Romanzi and Rahul Bala (Enfield, Conn.) in No. 2 doubles, earning another exciting win to give the Hawks the 2-1 edge in doubles matches. After facing a 5-4 deficit, the Hawk duo won the next four games to garner the 8-5 win.

 

Four of the six singles matches went three sets, including a back-and-forth battle at the No. 4 spot. RWU's Kyle Baker (Bolton, Conn.) defeated Springfield's Joe Lisi (Southbridge, Mass.), 2-6, 6-0, 6-3.

 

Hawks junior Dan Roberts (Milford, Conn.) and Springfield's Bobby Schlink were the only two able to win in straight sets, recording a 6-4, 6-2 win and 6-3, 6-3 win, respectively.

 

“This was a great out-of-conference win for the team.” Head Coach Chris O'Brien commented after the match. “This win gives us confidence knowing we can beat teams like Springfield and other teams they've beaten in the past.”

 

The team looks to continue their winning ways, Oct. 6, at the Stonehill College Invitational beginning at 12 p.m.