April 2, 2008

BRYANT MEN'S TENNIS RANKED NATIONALLY FOR FIRST TIME

SMITHFIELD, RI - The Bryant University men's tennis team has achieved something no previous men's tennis has before: a national ranking.  Thanks to a strong fall season and a recent successful week in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, the Bulldogs enter the week ranked No. 3 in the East Region and more importantly, find themselves ranked No. 44 nationally by the ITA.  

At 11-3 overall, the Bulldogs have excelled under second year coach Ron Gendron.  Thanks to the play of newcomers Cristian Balistrieri, Jose Rodriguez and Tom Nowak, along with returners Kevin Levinson, Matt Shephard-Lupo, and Dylan Whiting, the Bulldogs are looking to make a run at the conference championship in a few weeks and hopes of earning a spot in the NCAA tournament.

The NCAA will select the Division II field on April 30.

Bryant will return to action this Saturday hosting Queens (NY) in a noon match at the Bryant tennis courts.  The Knights are ranked No. 7 in the East Region.