Five Bulldogs, Gendron tabbed as All-Northeast Conference

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off its first-ever Northeast Conference Championship, the Bryant University men's tennis team saw six of its own, including head coach Ron Gendron, pick up All-NEC honors Wednesday afternoon.

Gendron, who was named NEC Coach of the Year for the second-straight season, led the Bulldogs to an unbelievable 18-10 season in which they ran the table during the month of April, posting a perfect 8-0 mark en route to the programs first-ever Northeast Conference Title.

Highlighting the postseason accolades for the Black and Gold are freshman Oliver Welsh (San Diego, Calif.), junior captain Ernesto Arguello (Managua, Nicaragua), and sophomore Max Vogt (Fair Oaks, Calif.) who were named First Team All-NEC at no. 3, 4, and 5 singles, respectively. Senior Dana Parziale (Pinehurst, N.C.) and junior Zachary Morris (Garden City, N.Y.) were tabbed as Second Team All-NEC nods at no. 1 and no. 2 singles, as well.

In doubles competition, Parziale and Arguello earned a no. 2 doubles First Team selection, while Vogt and Morris earned second team recognition for their work at the no. 1 spot.

Parziale, who caps off one of the best careers in Bryant tennis history with a pair of All-NEC laurels, will head into his first NCAA Tournament with an astounding 25-13 overall record, the most wins for a single player in the NEC this year (next closest was Welsh with 21). The senior captain compiled a 14-10 record at no. 1 singles against some of the toughest competition Bryant has ever faced, including six nationally ranked programs. Against NEC opponents, Parziale went 3-2 highlighted by a win over FDU's Arvis Berzins on April 5 in Smithfield. Parziale was named NEC Player of the Month three times, NEC Player of the Week twice, and ECAC Player of the Week twice.

With Arguello as a partner, the tandem went 14-4 overall, including 7-2 in dual matches. During the fall season, the duo ran the table at the USTA Invitational to win the no. 1 doubles draw and earned a pair of wins at the ITA Northeast Regionals. Less than two weeks ago, Parziale and Arguello took down Jacob Whalley and Arnaud Valentine, 8-4, in the NEC Finals, helping the Bulldogs cement themselves as NEC Champs.

Morris earns his second-straight All-NEC Second Team selection for his work at no. 2 singles this year after garnering the honor at the no. 1 spot in 2013. After missing fall competition, Morris stepped into the no. 2 singles spot right away, going 5-13 on the year. The junior picked up a huge win over Chris Shultz of nationally ranked Harvard, helping him earn NEC Player of the Week honors on March 13. However, the highlight of the season for Morris came on April 19 when he took down Jacob Whalley, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1, to clinch the NEC Title for the Bulldogs. Morris and Vogt also picked up All-NEC Second Team honors at no. 1 doubles, going 6-2 as a pairing, including 3-1 against league competition.

Welsh put together a remarkable rookie season en route to his first All-NEC First Team selection at no. 3 singles. The freshman finished the year 21-12 (second most wins in the NEC), including an astounding 12-4 at no. 3 singles. Closing the year on an eight-game win streak, including convincing victories in all three of Bryant's NEC Championship games, Welsh was named NEC Rookie of the Month twice and NEC Rookie of the Week once. The San Diego native was a perfect 6-0 against NEC opponents this year, the best record amongst every player in the NEC.

Arguello snagged his second-straight First Team All-NEC honor at no. 4 singles, going 16-16 on the year, including 8-5 from the four spot. He went 2-1 against league competition, taking down FDU's Arnaud Valentin twice, including a straight-set victory in the NEC finals.

Rounding out the Bulldog All-NEC honorees is Vogt, who earns his first All-NEC First Team selection at no. 5 singles. The 2013 Rookie of the Year finished 2014 with an 18-12 overall record (third most wins in the NEC), going 5-4 at no. 5 singles throughout the year. Vogt, who went a perfect 4-0 against NEC competition this spring, picked up big wins in all three of Bryant's NEC Tournament matches, including a huge come-from-behind win over Julien Philippe of FDU in the tourney finals.

Looking ahead, the NEC Champions head to Columbus, Ohio, for a showdown with the Big 10 Champion Buckeyes on Friday, May 9 in the first round of the NCAA Championships.

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