No. 1 seeded Bulldogs aim to four-peat in NEC Tournament

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – In search for its fourth-straight Northeast Conference Title, the Bryant University men's tennis team heads to West Windsor, N.J. for the league's championship tournament, beginning on Saturday after the top-seeded Bulldogs received a first round bye.

The Bulldogs earned the No. 1 seed after going undefeated in league play, beating Mount St. Mary's, Wagner, Fairleigh Dickinson and Sacred Heart, while giving up only two points to the opposition.

Bryant also enjoyed wins this season over the likes of Binghamton, Navy, NJIT and Connecticut.

The Black and Gold made history in the NEC last season, becoming the league's first men's tennis team to win three-straight titles after they defeated Saint Francis U., 4-0. The Bulldogs went on to face No. 16 Oklahoma State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, losing, 4-0, in Stillwater.

This season, the Bulldogs return one of the most decorated Bulldogs in program history in redshirt sophomore Matt Kuhar (Smithfield, R.I.). In his first season, Kuhar was named NEC Rookie of the Year and this season, he has received two league player of the month recognitions and two conference player of the week nods. Kuhar finished the 2016-17 season 10-3 overall and 4-0 in NEC play at No. 1 singles. He enters the postseason on a six-match winning streak.

Freshman Guido Argentini (Boca Raton, Fla.) has also made a name for himself in his debut season in Smithfield. The rookie capped off the regular season with an 11-9 overall record, earning NEC Rookie of the Week twice this year. The Florida native went 4-0 at No. 1 singles and 3-1 at No. 4 singles, including two NEC victories.

In doubles play, the No. 1 pair of Kuhar and Luke Lorenz (Colorado Springs, Colo.) have gone 8-7 on the year and 4-0 in conference play. The No. 3 duo of Artur Jakubowski (Dallas, Texas) and Michael Plutt (Weston, Fla.) have stayed perfect against NEC foes, while going 6-1 on the year.

Under four-time NEC Coach of the Year Ron Gendron, the Bulldogs will look to make history yet again in this year's NEC Tournament, beginning in the semifinals on Saturday.