No. 21 Lions deal Bulldogs 7-0 deficit on Sunday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After capturing the first conference win of the season over Mount St. Mary's on Friday, the Bryant University men's tennis team took a timeout from NEC play to take on No. 21 Columbia, in which the Bulldogs were dealt a 7-0 deficit on Sunday.

The Lions (11-3) swept the Bulldogs (6-11, 1-0 NEC) for the doubles point, including the nationally-ranked duo of No. 19 Richard Pham and Victor Pham's win, 6-3, at No. 2 doubles.

Independently ranked 72nd in the country, Victor Pham took down Matt Kuhar (Smithfield, R.I.), 6-2, 6-2, at No. 1 doubles. Junior Josh Kliger (Newport Beach, Calif.) fell to No. 101 Shawn Hadavi, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 2 doubles, while classmate Luke Lorenz (Colorado Springs, Colorado) was toppped, 6-0, 6-3, by No. 90 Jackie Tang at No. 3 singles.

Sophomore Artur Jakubowski (Dallas, Texas) put up a fight at No. 4 singles, winning the first set, 6-4. Alex Keyser bounced back to take the final two sets, 6-0, 6-3, as the Lions went on to win the match, 7-0. 

"Against Columbia, we found a way to make moments competitive and maintain a positive mindset against the strongest team we have faced to date," said head coach Ron Gendron. "We are looking forward to taking that experience into next week's NEC rivalry against Wagner." 

The Bulldogs return to league action in their next match, as they are set to take on Seahawks on Saturday, April 1, at 10:30 a.m. at Centre Court in East Providence.