Men's Tennis Edged by RIC, 5-4

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The visiting Rhode Island College men's tennis team edged Bridgewater State University, 5-4, in a Little East Conference match on Thursday afternoon at the Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts.

The Anchormen improve to 8-2 on the season and 5-1 in the Little East, while the host Bears fall to 2-7 overall and 1-4 in conference play.

RIC captured two of the three doubles matches, while the two teams split the six singles flights.

In doubles play, the second flight pairing of senior Chandler Scott (Ashaway, R.I.) and sophomore Michael Shea (Greenville, R.I.), and the third flight tandem of senior Matt Gambardella (West Warwick, R.I.) and sophomore Ethan Hoy (West Warwick, R.I.), each recorded 8-6 victories for the Anchormen.

Sophomore William Jones (Wrexham, U.K.) and freshman Colin Lamusta (Lynnfield, Mass.) notched the Bears' lone doubles point with an 8-3 triumph at the top spot.

BSU freshman Kendan DeBlois (Hadley, N.Y.) was the first to complete his singles match as he won in straight sets at the fifth flight, 6-4, 6-1, to knot the score at 2-2.

Gambardella, Hoy and Scott recorded straight set singles victories for the Anchormen at the third (6-3, 6-1), fourth (6-1, 7-6) and second (6-4, 6-1) flights, respectively, to clinch the match. The second set of Hoy's match was decided in a tie-breaker, 7-5.

BSU senior Alexander Belinsky (Norton, Mass.) battled back from a set down to post a 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 decision at number six singles, while sophomore Jeff Pavao (Somerset, Mass.) earned a tough win at the top flight, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 10-8.

Both teams are off until next week. The Bears host Little East foe UMass Boston on Tuesday afternoon at three, while the Anchormen entertain Suffolk University on Thursday afternoon at 3:30.