Bulldogs face off with #3 Ohio State, Friday in opening round of NCAA Championships

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL | LIVE STATS | NCAA BRACKET

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – In its first-ever NCAA Championship appearance, the Bryant University men's tennis team is set to play #3 Ohio State, Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. in the opening round of the NCAA Championships.

Just three weeks since winning their first Northeast Conference Championships in program history, the Bulldogs (18-10) will have an opportunity to play one of the best teams in the country Friday afternoon when they take on the #3 seeded Buckeyes (30-3) Friday in Columbus, Ohio.

Despite one of the most grueling schedules in program history, the Black and Gold put together a magical season, going undefeated against league opponents and running the table at the NEC Championships. A slate that included over 25 dual matches and six nationally ranked opponents, the Bulldogs have not dropped a contest since March 30 at Yale.

"We very excited for the opportunity to play one of the best teams in the country," said Bryant head coach and back-to-back NEC Coach of the Year Ron Gendron. "We are ready for the opportunity and will try to make them earn every point."

Led by senior captain and All-NEC Second Team selection at no. 1 singles Dana Parziale (Pinehurst, N.C.), Bryant has won its last eight decisions, including a dramatic 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in the NEC Finals on April 19.

Parziale has put together a senior season to remember, going 25-13 in singles play (most wins in the NEC), mostly at the top spot, en route to an All-NEC Second Team honor at no. 1 singles. Additionally, Parziale earned a trio of NEC Player of the Month awards and a pair of NEC Player of the Week accolades, as well as an All-NEC First Team nod at no. 2 doubles.

Also earning All-NEC distinction were 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, while junior Zachary Morris (Garden City, N.Y.) picked up the no. 2 singles All-NEC Second Team spot.

Ohio State enters Friday's match riding a seven-game win streak, last losing at Kentucky, 4-1, on April 9 in Lexington. The Buckeyes won their eighth Big Ten Tournament title with a 4-2 win over Illinois in the tourney final on April 27 and currently hold a 189-match home win streak dating back to April 5, 2003. Junior Hunter Callahan leads the team with 32 wins, while classmate Kevin Metka sits seconds with 29.

The winner of Bryant vs. Ohio State will go on to play the winner of  Louisville vs. Wake Forest (Fri., 10 a.m.) on Sunday at noon in Columbus.

For links to live stats and all the latest news on the Bryant University men's tennis team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.