April 27, 2008

CHAMPIONS !

BRYANT MEN'S TENNIS WINS FIRST NORTHEAST-10 TITLE SINCE 1994 WITH 5-0 WIN OVER STONEHILL SUNDAY
Bulldogs No Match In Run To The Championship   

EASTON, MA - For the first time since 1994, the Bryant University men's tennis team are champions of the Northeast-10 Conference.  The Bulldogs, the best team in the conference all season long, enjoyed a successful starting with a win over nationally-ranked Mercy (the second win over a nationally-ranked team this year). And concluding the week by capturing the 2008 conference title with a quick 5-0 win over Stonehill College indoors Sunday at Stonehill's tennis courts. 

The Bulldogs did not drop a single match during its run to the title; defeating Le Moyne 9-0 in the quarterfinals, Saint Michael's 5-0 in the semifinals and the Skyhawks 5-0 in Sunday's title match.

The top-seeded Bulldogs won all three doubles matches to open the final against Stonehill and got wins from sophomore Tom Nowak at No. 3 singles and Player and Freshman of the Year Cristian Balestrieri at No. 1 singles to clinch the championship.

Balestrieri, the top player in the conference this season, won his 18^th singles match at No. 1 this season with a straight-set decision over Michael Mashkevich (6-3, 6-3) while Nowak kicked clinched the title point with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Jason Allegretti at third singles.   

Bryant (19-3) will automatically qualify for the NCAA tournament while Stonehill, the second seed of the conference tournament, will away a likely at-large bid to the NCAA's.  

Stonehill College vs Bryant University (4/27/2008)
Bryant University 5, Stonehill College 0
4/27/2008 at Easton, Mass. (Stonehill College)

Singles
1. Balestrieri (BU) def. Mashkevich (SC), 6-3, 6-3
2. Rodriguez (BU) vs. Fayed (SC), DNF
3. Nowak (BU) def. Allegretti (SC), 7-5, 6-2
4. Whiting (BU) vs. Herschel (SC),  DNF
5. Gardiner (BU) def. Leone (SC),  DNF
6. Levinson (BU) vs. McGraffigan (SC), DNF

Doubles
1. Balestrier/Gardiner (BU) def. Mashkevich/Fayed (SC), 9-8 (6)
2. Rodriguez/Nowak (BU) def. Allegretti/Herchel (SC), 8-6
3. Sheppard-Lupo/Whiting (BU) def. Leone/McGaffigan (SC), 8-6

Final - Bryant 5, Stonehill 0
Records: Bryant 20-3, Stonehill 18-6