Men's Tennis 5/2/2015 4:25:00 PM

Men’s Tennis downed by Nichols in the CCC Championship

Box Score BRISTOL, R.I. – For the fourth consecutive season, Nichols College has claimed the Commonwealth Coast Conference Men's Tennis Championship, defeating Roger Williams University by a 5-3 score.

In front of a raucous crowd on Hawk and Bison supporters alike, RWU fed off the crowd and jumped out to an 8-4 lead with a win at #1 doubles. Ryan Swanson (West Newbury, Mass.) and Eric Laboissonniere (Cumberland, R.I.) battled back and forth against Brandon Roode (Griswold, Conn.) and Austin DuBois (Simsbury, Conn.) before finally pulling away at the end.

Minutes later, Jonah Schwartz (Orange, Conn.) and Grant Rosenberg (Melville, N.Y.) followed suit at #3 doubles, also earning an 8-4 victory at #2 doubles over Josh Halpern (Secaucus, N.J.) and James Smith (Monte Sereno, Calif.).

In the final doubles match, Joan Castillo (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) and Cam Lewis (Bolton, Conn.) rallied in a tightly-contested match against Zack Bussiere (Colchester, Conn.) and Kyle Bull (Pleasantville, N.Y.). Castillo and Lewis emerged with the 8-6 win over the Hawks, pulling the Bison within one point.

Trailing 2-1 after doubles, the Bison tied the match at two apiece after Roode notched a 6-3, 6-3 win over Laboissonniere at #1 singles. However, the Hawks shortly regained the lead with Bussiere claiming a 6-1, 6-3 win over Smith at #2.

However, that would be the final point for the Hawks on the day. Castillo held off a late rally by Swanson at #3 singles to take the match 6-2, 7-5. DuBois stepped up next for the Bison, defeating Bull 6-3, 7-5 at the #6 flight. Halpern secured the victory for Nichols at #4, taking the clinching match 7-6, (7-4), 6-1.

Nichols (17-5) will wait to find out its opponent in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, while Roger Williams closes out the season at 13-5.

Tennis Match Results
Nichols vs Roger Williams
05/02/15 at Bristol, R.I.
(RWU Tennis Courts)

Nichols 5, Roger Williams 3

Singles competition
1. Brandon Roode (NC) def. Eric Laboissonniere (RWU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Zack Bussiere (RWU) def. James Smith (NC) 6-1, 6-3
3. Joan Castillo (NC) def. Ryan Swanson (RWU) 6-2, 7-5
4. Josh Halpern (NC) def. Jonah Schwartz (RWU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-1
5. Grant Rosenberg (RWU) vs. Jake Zapatka (NC) 6-2, 6-7 (0-7), 1-3, unfinished
6. Austin DuBois (NC) def. Kyle Bull (RWU) 6-3, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Ryan Swanson/Eric Laboissonniere (RWU) def. Austin DuBois/Brandon Roode (NC) 8-4
2. Josh Halpern/James Smith (NC) def. Zack Bussiere/Kyle Bull (RWU) 8-6
3. Jonah Schwartz/Grant Rosenberg (RWU) def. Joan Castillo/Cam Lewis (NC) 8-4

Match Notes:
Nichols 17-5
Roger Williams 13-5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,2,3,6,4)
The Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship
#1 Roger Williams vs. #2 Nichols
Nichols wins the CCC Championship for the fourth straight season
T-4:35 A-203

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Players Mentioned

Kyle Bull: 5' 7"; Senior

Zack Bussiere: 5' 10"; Senior

Eric Laboissonniere: 6' 2"; Junior

Jonah Schwartz: 6' 3"; Junior

Ryan Swanson: 5' 10"; Senior

Grant Rosenberg: 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kyle Bull
: 5' 7"; Senior

Zack Bussiere
: 5' 10"; Senior

Eric Laboissonniere
: 6' 2"; Junior

Jonah Schwartz
: 6' 3"; Junior

Ryan Swanson
: 5' 10"; Senior

Grant Rosenberg
: 6' 0"; Freshman