#1 Bulldogs back in NEC Finals, take on #2 FDU Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – For the second-straight season, the #1 Bryant University men's tennis team advances to the Northeast Conference Championship with a 4-0 win over #5 Sacred Heart, Friday morning in West Windsor, N.J.

The top-seeded Bulldogs earned their second trip in two years to the NEC Finals were two-time defending champ Fairleigh Dickinson waits in the wings in search of a three peat. However on Friday, the Black and Gold showed no signs of slowing down as they took care of business knocking off the Pioneers for the second time in the past seven days.

Although it wasn't quite the runaway Thursday's match was, the Bulldogs were once again overpowering in doubles competition, taking no. 1 and no. 3 doubles, 8-4, respectively, thanks to strong showings from Max Vogt (Fair Oaks, Calif.) and Zachary Morris (Garden City, N.Y.), and John Templeman (Midland, Mich.) and Oliver Welsh (San Diego, Calif.).

In singles action, senior captain Dana Parziale (Pinehurst, N.C.) picked up his 25th singles victory of the season, taking down Brian Power, 6-2, 6-0, at the no. 1 spot. At no. 5, Vogt was equally impressive finishing off Anthony Savio, 6-1, 6-2, while Welsh cruised past Kevin Budrawich, 6-2, 6-2, to clinch the 4-0 win for the Bulldogs.

Last season in the NEC Finals, Fairleigh Dickinson defeated Bryant, 4-3, behind a dramatic last-second comeback, however, earlier this season the Bulldogs knocked off the two-time champ, 4-1, in Smithfield. The Black and Gold will finally get their opportunity to make history, Saturday morning when they battle the Knights for NEC supremacy. Match time is set for 9 a.m.  

For all the latest news on the Bryant University men's tennis team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.