Box Score QUINCY, Mass. - The top-seeded Eastern Nazarene College men's tennis team topped fourth-seeded Roger Williams 5-4 in the CCC semifinals Wednesday afternoon at the ENC Tennis Courts.
The Lions improve to 17-3 on the year and advance to the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship match for the first time in program history. Eastern Nazarene will host second-seeded Nichols in the CCC Finals Saturday, May 6.
The hosts established a 2-1 edge after doubles action.
Alex Partyka (Moscow, Russia) and Henry Siercke (Hamburg, Germany) clipped
Nick Spoor and
Grant Rosenberg at the No. 1 position, 8-5.
Laurent Ruttkowski (Castrop-Rauxel, Germany) and Davis Steelman (Darlington, Md.) defeated
Matthew Russo and
Jake Cole 8-3 at the No. 3 spot.
Santiago Camero (Valencia, Venezuela) and Kyle Pierson (Redding, Calif.) dropped a 9-7 decision at the second slot to
Thomas O'Leary and
Brendan White.
The Lions notched three singles wins to clinch their first-ever CCC semifinal victory.
Ruttkowski suffered a 6-4, 6-3 setback at the No. 3 singles spot to Rosenberg as the Hawks pulled even at 2-2.
Pierson absorbed a 6-2, 6-3 loss at the fifth position to Russo as Roger Williams captured a 3-2 advantage in the match.
Camero fell to Spoor at the No. 4 slot 7-5, 6-4 to push the visitors' lead to 4-2.
Eastern Nazarene cut the deficit to 4-3 as Siercke prevailed in three sets at the No. 2 singles spot. The rookie claimed the opening set 6-2 before Cole responded with a 6-1 win in the second frame. Siercke bounced back to blank Cole 6-0 in the third set.
The Lions leveled the match at 4-4 as Partyka rallied for a three-set victory at the top position over White. After dropping the first set 6-4, the sophomore stormed back to win the second 6-2 and the third 6-2 to cap off the come-from-behind victory.
Steelman rolled to a 6-2, 6-2 win in the deciding sixth singles match over
Alex Bonanno.
The Hawks finish the season with a 10-8 overall record.
- Release courtesy of the Eastern Nazarene College Sports Information Department
