BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Men's Tennis will seek to defend its Commonwealth Coast Conference title as the Hawks defeated Eastern Nazarene College 5-2 Wednesday afternoon to advance to the CCC Championship Match.

Zack Bussiere (Colchester, Conn.) and Jeff DeNunzio (Barrington, R.I.) began the match with an 8-4 win over Sam McKay-Corkum and Sam Son at #3 doubles, followed by an 8-3 win by Jonathan Chandler (East Falmouth, Mass.) and Spencer Withington (Plymouth, Mass.) against Brandon Lum and Nick Thompson. The Lions would get on the board with a hard-fought 9-8 (7-4) victory by Eric Johnson Austin Steelman (ENC) over Jason Pacino (North Reading, Mass.) and Ryan Swanson (West Newbury, Mass.) at #1

In singles play, DeNunzio kicked things off with a 6-3, 6-3 win at #2 over Lum, followed by a 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) win by Webster over Luz at #5. Eastern Nazarene grabbed one more point with Son's 6-3, 6-2 over Pacino at #4. However, Chandler clinched the win for the Hawks at #6 with a 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 over Johnson.

Roger Williams (10-7) earns a berth to the conference championship for the fifth straight season and will face off against top-seeded Nichols College on Saturday. Eastern Nazarene closes out the season with a record of 14-8.

Tennis Match Results

Eastern Nazarene vs Roger Williams

05/02/12 at Bristol, R.I.

(RWU Tennis Courts)

Roger Williams 5, Eastern Nazarene 2

 Singles competition

1. Zack Bussiere (RWU) vs. Austin Steelman (ENC) 7-6 (7-5), 5-4, unfinished

2. Jeff DeNunzio (RWU) def. Brandon Lum (ENC) 6-3, 6-3

3. Ryan Swanson (RWU) vs. Sam McKay-Corkum (ENC) 1-6, 6-3, 5-4, unfinished

4. Sam Son (ENC) def. Jason Pacino (RWU) 6-3, 6-2

5. Taylor Webster (RWU) def. Tim Luz (ENC) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)

6. Jonathan Chandler (RWU) def. Eric Johnson (ENC) 7-6 (7-5), 7-5

 Doubles competition

1. Eric Johnson/Austin Steelman (ENC) def. Jason Pacino/Ryan Swanson (RWU) 9-8 (7-4)

2. Zack Bussiere/Jeff DeNunzio (RWU) def. Sam McKay-Corkum/Sam Son (ENC) 8-4

3. Jonathan Chandler/Spencer Withington (RWU) def. Brandon Lum/Nick Thompson (ENC) 8-3

Match Notes:

Eastern Nazarene 14-8

Roger Williams 10-7

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (2,5,4,6)

The Commonwealth Coast Conference Semifinals

#2 Roger Williams vs. #3 Eastern Nazarene

Roger Williams advances to CCC Championship