Men's Tennis Falls to Western Connecticut on Senior Day

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men's tennis team wrapped up regular season play with a 5-4 setback to visiting Western Connecticut State University on Saturday afternoon in a Little East Conference (LEC) match at the Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts.

The match also marked Senior Day for Bridgewater State as the Bears honored graduate student Sean Nutter (Mattapoisett, Mass.) and seniors Charles Fiske (Taunton, Mass.) and Kendan Ziegler (Hadley, N.Y.).

Visiting Western Connecticut improved to 7-8 on the season and 4-2 in the Little East with the win as the Wolves earned the #3 seed in next week's Little East Tournament. The Bears, who are seeded fourth in next week's tournament, fall to 4-8 overall and 3-3 in conference play.

West Conn swept the three doubles matches, while Bridgewater State captured four of the six singles flights.

Junior Kevin Tenesaca (Danbury, Conn.) and graduate student Jay Kilcourse (New Fairfield, Conn.) earned an 8-4 win at number one doubles for the Wolves, while senior Jerry Narcisse (Norwalk, Conn.) and junior Nathaniel Mariduena (Danbury, Conn.) teamed up for an 8-6 decision at the third spot. Freshman Aidan Burke (Wilton, Conn.) and senior Sebastian Frisch (Redding, Conn.) outlasted the Bears' second flight tandem of Nutter and freshman Adam Beatrice (Rockland, Mass.) in a tie-breaker, 8-7 (7-2), to complete the doubles sweep.

A 6-2, 6-1 straight set win by Burke at second singles put the visitors at match point. Tenasaca then secured the decisive fifth point for the Wolves with a 6-2, 6-2 straight set triumph at number one.

Beatrice, sophomore Matthew Krampf (Littleton, Mass.) and freshman Tyler Barros (Somerset, Mass.) recorded straight set wins for Bridgewater State in singles competition at the third (6-3, 7-5), fifth (6-3, 6-2) and sixth (6-4, 6-4) flights, respectively. Fiske split the first two sets in tie-breakers, 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-5) at number four, before earning the win in a super tie-breaker, 10-7.

Beatrice improved to 8-4 on the season including a perfect 6-0 versus Little East opponents. Barros is now 7-4 in singles play with a 4-1 conference mark.

Up Next: Both teams will host a Little East Tournament first round match next Tuesday. The Wolves will take on #6 Castleton University, while the Bears will battle defending champion and #5 seed UMass Boston at 3:30.