By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- He entered this Bridgewater State University men's tennis season with 11 career singles victories over three years.

That number has been surpassed in the senior season of captain Ryan Hebert (Taunton, Mass.), thanks to his magnificent final act with the Bears.

The No. 6 singles player leads BSU in victories and is 12-2, including 5-0 in the Little East Conference regular season, and made the all-conference first team in doubles.

The 12 wins are the most by a BSU player since 2017 when Chris Jastrab finished 12-1.

And the list of victories includes a memorable onefor Hebert.

Last Saturday, with the Bears and Rhode Island College tied, 3-3, in the Little East Conference championship match, Hebert defeated Kyle Neuendorf to clinch BSU's second title in three years and a trip to the NCAA Division III tournament.

It has been a fantastic finish to the career of Hebert, who will play in the national tourney with the Bears on Friday at 3 p.m. against Skidmore College in Brunswick, Maine.

Hebert was 0-2 in singles as a freshman in 2023, went 8-4 as a sophomore during the Little East title season of 2024 and 3-0 in 2025.

He returned this spring after putting in plenty of work during the offseason and has been a winning player both in singles and doubles.

The highlight came last weekend with the championship-clinching win against RIC.

"He's a senior captain who put the entire season on his shoulders in a clutch situation and got a huge result in a 3-3 tie in a championship match," said coach David Purpura. "I never had a doubt that was going to be the result once that match got started because I had seen Ryan improving year after year."

Hard work has been the key for Hebert as he went from a player who was on the court for a combined five singles matches as a freshman and junior to a key member of an NCAA tournament-bound team.

"He was a kid who loved tennis in high school, but he wasn't a tennis player in high school," said Purpura, who teaches at Taunton High, where Hebert graduated from. "Coming to Bridgewater, seeing what the level was like, he had an opportunity to work hard, evolve his game every year.

"He put in the work in the gym, became a better student. Ryan has grown leaps and bounds on and off the court. He has transformed himself physically. I have more faith in Ryan going three sets against any opponent he sees than I do a lot of guys."

Hebert played two years of high school tennis, losing his sophomore season to COVID.

He chose Bridgewater State in order to be a communications major, then switched to physical education.

Purpura contacted Hebert about trying out for the team and he made it as a reserve in 2023.

"Coach Purpura called me because he knew me from Taunton High and had coached my sisters at Taunton High," said Hebert.

Hebert played two non-conference matches in singles and was 0-2 and was 3-3 at No. 3 doubles as a freshman.

During the championship season of '24, Hebert moved into the lineup and was 8-4 at Nos. 5 and 6 singles, including 4-1 in the Little East, and 7-7 with a 4-1 conference record at No. 3 doubles.

"It was great," said Hebert. "It's a lot more fun than sitting on the bench. All the work definitely was worth it, especially going as far as we did. It was fun being able to play in those matches.

"I would say I put in a lot of work training over the summer and playing in a league in Lakeville. That's when I started lifting in the weight room more."

Hebert was 3-0 in singles in '25 and again had a winning doubles season, compiling an 8-4 record that included 5-0 in the Little East as the Bears made it to the conference final.

Hebert went back to work last summer and in the fall, improving his game and hitting the weight room.

It all paid off when he earned the No. 6 slot in singles where he has piled up wins.

Hebert is also 12-4 in doubles, including 10-3 and 6-0 in the Little East when paired with freshman Will Horton (Lakeville, Mass.). Their performance earned a spot on the all-conference first team.

"Every year, I still try to bring more and more," said Hebert of his training. "This past summer was the most I worked in the offseason. I think I probably played tennis at least five days a week, maybe six days. It was a lot. I wanted to work very hard.

"It was just a lot of training, practicing, lifting, being in shape. Everything in the offseason counts."

Heading into the NCAA match with Skidmore, ranked No. 24 in the nation, Hebert has a career singles mark of 23-8 and is 30-18 in doubles.

The productive run has been capped off by a strong senior season.

"It's great," said Purpura. "To see a kid like Ryan, who I've known since he was in high school, to grow into this role and become a leader, elected a captain by his peers and bring home a championship at BSU, it's really great."

Said Hebert, "It's very satisfying. The success we've had has been great. Winning the Little East twice is a great accomplishment. Not many people can say that."