ORLANDO, Fla. – The Roger Williams University Men's Tennis team closed out its Spring Break trip to Florida on a down note, dropping a pair of matches to Franklin & Marshall College and Illinois Wesleyan University by respective scores of 1-8 and 2-7.

Against Franklin & Marshall, sophomore Kevin Erikson (Tolland, Conn.) and junior Nicholas Hawvermale (Bethlehem, Conn.) grabbed Roger Williams' sole win on the day, a 9-7 victory in #2 doubles over Peter Bookman (Lancaster, Pa.) and Ross Silverburg (Cherry Hill, N.J.).

Junior Spencer Withington (Plymouth, Mass.) and freshmen Jason Pacino (North Reading, Mass.) and Nate Rohman (Topsham, Maine) each fell by identical 6-4, 6-2 scores in the sixth, fifth, and fourth flights of singles play. Sophomore Jeff DeNunzio dropped his #1 match to Silverburg 6-3, 6-2 while senior Kyle Baker (Bolton, Conn.) was taken out in straight sets by Silverstein. Erikson's 6-0, 6-4 loss to Armen Vartan (Harrisburg, Pa.) at #3 wrapped up the Hawks' singles play.

Against Illinois Wesleyan, the Hawks earned wins at #2 and #5 singles, with Erikson and Rohman leading the way. Erikson won a thrilling three-set match against Tom Deschler (Champaign, Ill.) 7-6 (3-0), 6-7 (0-12), 10-8 at #2, with Rohman falling behind 4-6 to Steven Hayman (Glen Ellyn Ill.) at #5 before rallying 6-4 and 11-9 in the final two sets.

DeNunzio and Withington nearly came away with the #3 doubles match against Hayman and Charlie Sell (Wauconda, Ill.), but the Titans emerged with the 8-6 win. Similarly, Hawvermale and Erikson fell in a close 8-5 match against Deschler and Brian Piotrowski (Palatine, Ill.) that could have swung the momentum of the match in RWU's favor.

At singles Piotrowski earned 6-3, 6-4 decision over DeNunzio at #1, with Baker falling 6-0, 6-0 to Nick Kenaga. Michael Christison defeated Pacino 6-4, 6-2 at #4, while Withington fell 6-3, 6-0 to Sell.

Roger Williams (2-6) returns back to Rhode Island and will travel to Curry College next Wednesday for The Commonwealth Coast Conference opener at 4:00 p.m.

Tennis Match Results

Franklin & Marshall vs Roger Williams

03/18/10 at Orlando, Fla.

Franklin & Marshall 8, Roger Williams 1

Singles competition:

1. Ross Silverberg (F&M) def. Jeff DeNunzio (RWU) 6-3, 6-2

2. Armen Vartan (F&M) def. Kevin Erikson (RWU) 6-0, 6-4

3. Doug Silverstein (F&M) def. Kyle Baker (RWU) 6-0, 6-0

4. Cameron Relic (F&M) def. Jason Pacino (RWU) 6-4, 6-2

5. Eric Rouff (F&M) def. Nate Rohman (RWU) 6-4, 6-2

6. Walker Phillips (F&M) def. Spencer Withington (RWU) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition:

1. Cameron Relic/Armen Vartan (F&M) def. Jeff DeNunzio/David Lange (RWU), by default

2. Kevin Erikson/Nicholas Hawvermale (RWU) def. Peter Bookman/Ross Silverberg (F&M) 9-7

3. Doug Silverstein/James Tunner (F&M) def. Kyle Baker/Nate Rohman (RWU) 8-4

Match Notes:

Franklin & Marshall 3-3

Roger Williams 2-5

Tennis Match Results

Illinois Wesleyan vs Roger Williams

03/18/10 at Orlando, Fla.

Illinois Wesleyan 7, Roger Williams 2

Singles competition:

1. Piotrowski, Brian (IWU) def. Jeff DeNunzio (RWU) 6-3, 6-4

2. Kevin Erikson (RWU) def. Deschler, Tom (IWU) 7-6 (3-0), 6-7 (0-12), 10-8

3. Kenaga, Nick (IWU) def. Kyle Baker (RWU) 6-0, 6-0

4. Christison, Michael (IWU) def. Jason Pacino (RWU) 6-4, 6-2

5. Nate Rohman (RWU) def. Hayman, Steven (IWU) 4-6, 6-4, 11-9

6. Sell, Charlie (IWU) def. Spencer Withington (RWU) 6-3, 6-0

Doubles competition:

1. Piotrowski, Brian/Deschler, Tom (IWU) def. Nicholas Hawvermale/Kevin Erikson (RWU) 8-5

2. Kenaga, Nick/Christison, Michael (IWU) def. Kyle Baker/Jason Pacino (RWU) 8-2

3. Hayman, Steven/Sell, Charlie (IWU) def. Jeff DeNunzio/Spencer Withington (RWU) 8-6

Match Notes:

Illinois Wesleyan 7-1

Roger Williams 2-6