Bulldogs fall to Buckeyes at NCAA Championships

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Making its first-ever Division I NCAA Championship appearance in program history, the Bryant University men's tennis team fell to #3 Ohio State, 4-0, Friday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio.

The Bulldogs close the books on their best season since joining the Division I ranks six seasons ago, finishing 18-11 overall after winning their first Northeast Conference Championship in April.

"The boys played very well," said Bryant head coach Ron Gendron. "We competed at a high level and this is a great experience to build on for the future."

On Friday, the Black and Gold fought for every single point against the #3 team in the country from start to finish. In doubles play, junior Zachary Morris (Garden City, N.Y.) and sophomore Max Vogt (Fair Oaks, Calif.) battled again nationally ranked duo Peter Kobelt and Ralf Steinbach, falling 8-3, before the Buckeyes eventually clinched the doubles point.

In singles play, senior Dana Parziale (Pinehurst, N.C.) gave the #11 ranked player in the country, Kobelt, all he could handle at no. 1 singles dropping the first set, 6-4, before tying it up 3-3 in the second set before Ohio St. clinched the match. At no. 2 singles, Morris recorded three points in the first set against #109 ranked Herkko Pollanen.

"This was the best season in Bulldog history," added Gendron. "We are looking forward to some well deserved rest and can't wait to get back after it in September!"

Friday's match also marked the final match of Parziale's prolific Bulldog career in which he won over 160 matches during the course of his four years in Smithfield.

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