Bulldogs roll Fairfield, 6-1, Wednesday -- add NC State and BU to April slate

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Behind a dominating performance from top to bottom, the Bryant University men's tennis team took down Fairfield, 6-1, Wednesday afternoon at the Yale Indoor Courts in New Haven, Conn.

With the win, the Bulldogs not only earn their first-ever victory over the Stags, but they also improve to 2-9 overall and are now winners of two of their last three heading into the final month of competition.

On Wednesday, Bryant jumped out to quick start, taking all three doubles sets. In the No. 1 spot, the freshmen tandem of Matt Kuhar (Smithfield, R.I.) and Joshua Kliger (Newport Beach, Calif.) took care off Ofir Solomon and Peter Colliard, 8-4, while sophomore Oliver Welsh (San Diego, Calif.) and freshman Luke Lorenz (Colorado Springs, Colo.) knocked off George Tiotine and Brad Orban, 8-6, at No. 2 doubles. And in the No. 3 spot, reigning Northeast Conference and ECAC Player of the Week Zachary Morris (Garden City, N.Y.) and classmate Joshua Rubinstein (Trumbull, Conn.) defeated Dylan Appel and Luke Lemieux, 8-6, to give the Black and Gold the early 1-0 lead.

In singles action, the potent Bryant lineup looked nearly unstoppable with big wins from spot 3-6. At No. 3 singles, Lorenz continued his strong play as of late with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Tioutine, while Welsh followed suit, taking down Appel, 6-4, 6-1, in the No. 4 position. Junior Max Vogt (Fair Oaks, Calif.) was impressive with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Colliard, with redshirt-freshman Nick Lamart (Raleigh, N.C.) sealing the big win with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 victory over Lemieux at No. 6 singles.

With less than one month until the NEC Championships in West Windsor, N.J., the road for the Black and Gold does not get any easier with upcoming matches vs. NEC foes Saint Francis U. and Fairleigh Dickinson. The Bulldogs also added a few more tough tests along the way, including regional rival Boston University on April 8 and ACC powerhouse, nationally ranked North Carolina St. on April 16, both at home.

Bryant returns to the court vs. Quinnipiac Saturday evening in North Haven, Conn.