MEN'S TENNIS WRAPS UP SUCCESSFUL SPRING TRIP 3-0 WITH WIN OVER KUTZTOWN

March 13, 2010

MEN’S TENNIS DEFEATS KUTZTOWN 4-3 TO WRAP UP SPRING BREAK

Andres Orbotig returns a shot against Kutztown in Bryant's 4-3 win Friday. (Cournoyer photo)

HILTON HEAD, S.C. -- Thanks to some lucky weather conditions, the Bryant University men’s tennis team pulls off a tight one against Kutztown University, which puts them at 3-0 for this spring break trip to Georgia and South Carolina.  With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 11-1 in spring break matches under coach Ron Gendron, several coming against nationally ranked opponents.

The Bulldogs grabbed the all-important doubles point to open the match and it proved to be the difference against a very good Kutztown team.  Canadian Nicholai Hill and Juan Paredes won 8-3 at No. 1 doubles but Kevin Gardiner and Tom Nowak dropped a tough 8-6 decision in No. 2 doubles. 

The decisive point came down to the Dream Team combo of junior Cristian Balestrieri and freshman Andres Orbotig who pulled off a huge win over Ashok Mukerjee and Cameron O’Donnell 8-5 to run their record to an amazing 12-0 in doubles play together.

After doubles play, the Bulldogs were forced to adjust their lineup following an injury to Gardiner who regularly plays at No. 3 singles.  But the Bulldogs game through with wins by Paredes, Hill and Nowak in singles play to  give Bryant the 4-3 victory.
 
After a rough indoor season, the Bulldogs are excited to continue play outdoors and look to carry the momentum from a very successful spring trip into the upcoming matches.  Coach Ron Gendron was quoted after the match saying, “A tricky lineup change threw us off at first, but the boys battled through it and proved themselves on the court.”

Bryant win over Kutztown 4-3

Box Score
Doubles
1.      Paredes and Hill def. Jonathan Aouley and Bobby Zerivick  8-3
2.      Gardiner and Nowak lost to Kaushik Das and Arpit Sharuna  8-6
3.      Balestrieri and Orobitg def. Ashok Mukerjee and Cameron O’Donnell   8-5

Singles
1       Cristian Balestrieri lost to Kaushik Das 7-6, 6-3
2       Juan Paredes def. Jonathan Aouley 6-4, 6-0
3       Nicholai Hill def.  Ashok Mukerjee 6-2, 6-4
4       Tommy Nowak def. Bobby Zerivick  6-1, 6-1
5       Andres Orobitg lost to Arpit Sharuna  1-6, 6-1, (10-8)
6       Dan Cournoyer lost to Cameron O’Donnell   6-4, 7-6