Bryant tennis sweeps NEC weekly honors

ZACH MORRIS AND LUCY BIRD EARN NEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After helping lead the Bryant University men's and women's tennis teams to perfect 2-0 records over Spring Break, sophomore Zachary Morris (Garden City, N.Y.) and senior Lucy Bird (Hamilton, New Zealand) were named the Northeast Conference Tennis Players of the Week, announced Thursday evening.

Morris came through with a perfect week for the Bulldogs, going 3-0 at #1 singles and 3-0 at #1 doubles teaming up with Dana Parziale (Pinehurst, N.C.).  The sophomore started out with a 6-2, 6-4 triumph over Thomas O'Brien in a 4-3 setback to Villanova, then rallied to beat Mount St. Mary's senior Matthew Blake, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 and help clinch a 4-3 league win over the Mountaineers.  The following afternoon Morris beat Georgetown's Charlie Caris, 6-2, 6-4, in yet another narrow 4-3 loss.  The Garden City, NY native has racked up seven singles wins on the year and is 14-8 in doubles play, including a 6-1 mark paired up with Parziale.

Bird improved to a team-best 10-5 in singles play after posting a pair of victories on Bryant's road trip split last week.  The senior had little trouble disposing Villanova's Amanda Nelson, 6-0, 6-4, in #5 flight play last Wednesday, then did not drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win over Jenny Smith as Bryant stopped NEC rival Mount St. Mary's by a 5-2 final score the next day.  Bird also teamed with her sister, Rosie, to post a pair of #2 doubles victories.

Both the men's and women's tennis teams will continue NEC-play over the weekend as they welcome Wagner on Saturday and Quinnipiac on Sunday for a pair of crucial matches in Smithfield.

For all the latest news on the Bryant University tennis programs, visit BryantBulldogs.com.