Tennis Topples 'Nova 4-3 Saturday
BULLDOGS EARN FIRST WIN OVER BIG EAST TEAM DOWNING VILLANOVA 4-3
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's tennis team continues to raise the bar. Armed with a well-balanced lineup of experienced veterans and talented newcomers, the Bulldogs continue to pick up milestone wins.
Now, after signature wins over Sacred Heart, Quinnipiac and Hofstra last week, the Bulldogs notched their first-ever victory over a Big East team with a hard-fought 4-3 decision over Villanova University Saturday afternoon in Villanova, Pa.
But to do so, the Bulldogs (11-6) needed to rally from down 3-0 to come out on top of the Wildcats. Dropping the doubles point to start the match, junior Juan Paredes (Quito, Ecuador) and freshman Nolan Gelman (Dix Hills, N.Y.) came through with clutch three-set wins in singles plat to help lead the comeback.
Both Paredes and Gelman dropped opening sets against their counterparts by identical scores of 6-4. But Paredes would turn the tables on Villanova's Trenton Alenik by winning 6-4 win in the second set and closed out the Wildcat with a 6-2 win in the third. Gelman also came out on top, 6-4 in the second set against Mathew Colonnese and followed with a 6-1 win the third.
Senior Cristian Balestrieri (Mar Del Plata, Argentina) cruised to a strong 6-2, 6-3 win over Thomas O'Brien at No. 2 singles while Nicholai Hill (Ottawa, Ontario) rounded out the comeback with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Andrew Adler at No. 6.
Bryant will travel to Monmouth Sunday for a Northeast Conference match with the Hawks.
Bryant University 4, Villanova 3
Singles competition
1. Juan Paredes (BRYM) def. Trenton Alenik (VILLA) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
2. Cristian Balestrieri (BRYM) def. Thomas O'Brien (VILLA) 6-2, 6-3
3. Dave Shaheen (VILLA) def. Dana Parziale (BRYM) 6-0, 6-2
4. Ryan Peyton (VILLA) def. Peter Hart Callahan (BRYM) 6-3, 6-0
5. Nolan Gelman (BRYM) def. Mathew Colonnese (VILLA) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
6. Nicholai Hill (BRYM) def. Andrew Adler (VILLA) 6-2, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Alenik/ O'Brien (VILLA) def. Paredes/ Gelman (BRYM) 8-2
2. Shaheen/ Peyton (VILLA) def. Connor Crowley/Peter Hart Callahan (BRYM) 8-2
3. Kyle Grandin/John Drosick (VILLA) def. Balestrieri/ Parziale (BRYM) 8-6
Bryant University 11-6