Box Score
BRISTOL, R.I. – Nichols College claimed its second straight Commonwealth Coast Conference Men's Tennis Championship, defeating Roger Williams University 5-1 Saturday afternoon in the title match.
With the win, Nichols improves to 18-5 on the season and will represent the CCC in the NCAA Tournament. The Bison will find out their opponent on Monday during the NCAA Selection Show. Roger Williams closes out the year at 12-7.
Nichols began the day with Eduardo Irizarry (Lajas, Puerto Rico) and Brandon Roode (Griswold, Conn.) grabbing a quick 8-0 win at #1 over Kevin Erikson (Tolland, Conn.) and Jason Pacino (North Reading, Mass.). Justin DeLuca (Mashpee, Mass.) and David Drucker (Bellmore, N.Y.) followed suit shortly after with an 8-1 win at #2 against Ryan Swanson (West Newbury, Mass.) and Jonah Schwartz (Orange, Conn.).
The match of the day came at #3 doubles between RWU's Eric Laboissonniere (Cumberland, R.I.) and Zack Bussiere (Colchester, Conn.) and Nichols' Carlos De La Cruz (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) and Josh Halpern (Secaucus, N.J.). The Bison rallied from a 2-5 deficit to take the lead, going up 7-6 before the Hawks came back to tie the set at eight apiece. In the tiebreaker, RWU was able to pull away with a 7-3 win and put the Hawks on the board.
At singles, Nichols halted the momentum RWU carried into matches, coming away with the three wins to take the championship. Irizarry began with a 6-3, 6-2 win at #4 over Taylor Webster (Bristol, Conn.), followed by Drucker's 6-1, 6-4 win at #5 over Laboissonniere. Roode earned the clinching point at #2, defeating Erikson 6-2, 6-1.
This marks the third straight meeting between RWU and Nichols in the CCC Championship match. Nichols' win breaks the tie, as the Bison now holds a 2-1 edge in the series.
Tennis Match Results
Nichols vs Roger Williams
05/04/13 at Bristol, R.I.
(RWU Tennis Courts)
Nichols 5, Roger Williams 1
Singles competition
1. Zack Bussiere (RWU) vs. Justin DeLuca (NC) 2-6, 1-4, unfinished
2. Brandon Roode (NC) def. Kevin Erikson (RWU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Eduardo Irizarry (NC) def. Taylor Webster (RWU) 6-3, 6-2
4. David Drucker (NC) def. Eric Laboissonniere (RWU) 6-1, 6-4
5. Ryan Swanson (RWU) vs. Carlos De La Cruz (NC) 4-6, 1-5, unfinished
6. Kyle Bull (RWU) vs. Josh Halpern (NC) 3-6, 6-3, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Eduardo Irizarry/Brandon Roode (NC) def. Kevin Erikson/Jason Pacino (RWU) 8-0
2. Justin DeLuca/David Drucker (NC) def. Jonah Schwartz/Ryan Swanson (RWU) 8-1
3. Zack Bussiere/Eric Laboissonniere (RWU) def. Carlos De La Cruz/Josh Halpern (NC) 9-8 (7-3)
Match Notes:
Nichols 18-5
Roger Williams 12-7
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,4,2)
The Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship
#1 Roger Williams vs. #2 Nichols
Nichols wins second straight CCC Championship
