BRISTOL, R.I. – In a battle of Commonwealth Coast Conference unbeatens, the Roger Williams University Men's Tennis team emerged with a 6-3 victory over Nichols College Tuesday afternoon to take sole possession of first place in the TCCC.

Both teams entered the day with identical 7-0 records in the conference and tied for first place in the TCCC. The loss for Nichols snaps a nine-match winning streak dating back to March 20.

The Hawks began the match with two wins at doubles. David Lange (Great Neck, N.Y.) and Dan Kleitz (Wethersfield, Conn.) defeated Justin DeLuca (Mashpee, Mass.) and Tyler McLaughlin (Hollis, N.H.) 8-2 at #1, while Kevin Erikson (Tolland, Conn.) and Nicholas Hawvermale (Bethlehem, Conn.) bested Steve Carella (Rocky Hill, Conn.) and Tony Ramsdell (Gardner, Mass.) 8-5 at the second flight.

David Drucker (Belmore, N.Y.) and Eliot Wuhrmann (Fontainbleu, France) would prevent the sweep by taking the third doubles match for Nichols 8-4 over Kyle Baker (Bolton, Conn.) and Nate Rohman (Topsham, Maine)

At singles play, the Bison got wins at the top-two positions to take a 3-2 lead. DeLuca's 6-0, 6-2 win over Jeff DeNunzio (Barrington, R.I.) at #1 and Drucker's 6-1, 6-0 win over Lange at #2 put Nichols on top. Kleitz and Baker would help Roger Williams retake the lead, as Kleitz beat Carella 6-4, 6-2 at #3 and Baker downed Ramsdell 6-2, 6-3 at #4 to put RWU up 4-3.

Erikson and McLaughlin were locked in a tight match at #4, tied at one going into the final set, yet Erikson ultimately emerged with the 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 win. Jason Pacino (North Reading, Mass.) clinched the win for RWU by taking his #5 match 6-4, 6-3.

With the victory, Roger Williams extends its regular-season conference winning streak to 20 matches, with the team's last loss a 4-5 setback to Western New England College back on April 9, 2008.

Roger Williams (11-6, 8-0 TCCC) heads to Eastern Nazarene Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. match, while Nichols (12-5, 7-1 TCCC) hosts Colby-Sawyer College Saturday at noon.

Tennis Match Results

Nichols vs Roger Williams

04/13/10 at Bristol, R.I.

Roger Williams 6, Nichols 3

Singles competition:

1. Justin DeLuca (NC) def. Jeff DeNunzio (RWU) 6-0, 6-2

2. David Drucker (NC) def. David Lange (RWU) 6-1, 6-0

3. Dan Kleitz (RWU) def. Steve Carella (NC) 6-4, 6-2

4. Kevin Erikson (RWU) def. Tyler McLaughlin (NC) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4

5. Jason Pacino (RWU) def. Eliot Wuhrmann (NC) 6-4, 6-3

6. Kyle Baker (RWU) def. Tony Ramsdell (NC) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles competition:

1. Dan Kleitz/David Lange (RWU) def. Justin DeLuca/Tyler McLaughlin (NC) 8-2

2. Kevin Erikson/Nicholas Hawvermale (RWU) def. Steve Carella/Tony Ramsdell (NC) 8-5

3. David Drucker/Eliot Wuhrmann (NC) def. Kyle Baker/Nate Rohman (RWU) 8-4

Match Notes:

Nichols 12-5, 7-1 TCCC

Roger Williams 11-6, 8-0 TCCC