POMFRET, Conn. (April 27) – The Nichols College men’s tennis team advanced to the The Commonwealth Coast Conference semifinals for the first time since 2004 with a 5-1 quarterfinal victory over Wentworth at The Pomfret School. The second-seeded Bison led, 2-1, after doubles play and got wins at the first, second and fifth singles flights to secure their victory over the seventh-seeded Leopards. Nichols, which improves to a program-record 17-5, will host the winner of sixth seed Endicott and third seed Salve Regina on Wednesday, April 28th at 3 p.m. for the semifinals. Wentworth concludes its season at 6-8 overall.
Sophomores David Drucker (Bellmore, N.Y.) and Eliot Wuhrmann (Fontainbleau, France) made quick work of Joe Centola and Nathan Dube at third doubles, ousting the pair, 8-0, for their 10th-straight win. Drucker was the second to finish on the singles side with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Dan Alexander to mark his 15th consecutive singles victory.
Wentworth picked up its only point on the day with an 8-6 win at top doubles as Juan Rodriguez and Dan Alexander edged out Justin DeLuca (Mashpee, Mass.) and Tyler McLaughlin (Hollis, N.H.), 8-6. Steve Carella (Rocky Hill, Conn.) and Tony Ramsdell (Gardner, Mass.) followed with an 8-6 win at No. 2 doubles to put the Bison ahead.
Dan Young (Washington Depot, Conn.) was the first to finish on the singles side, blazing past Joe Centola, 6-2, 6-2, before Drucker made it 4-1 in favor of the Bison. DeLuca followed to clinch with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Rodriguez at the top flight, delivering Rodriguez’s second loss of the season; the first came at the hand of DeLuca when the teams met earlier in April.
Nichols 5, Wentworth 1
4/27/10 at Dudley, Mass. (Francis W. Robinson Courts)
Singles competition
1. Justin DeLuca (NC) def. Juan Rodriguez (WIT) 6-1, 6-3
2. David Drucker (NC) def. Dan Alexander (WIT) 6-0, 6-0
3. Steve Carella (NC) vs. Nate Gove (WIT) 6-3, 5-1, unfinished
4. Tyler McLaughlin (NC) vs. Ross Lyons (WIT) 6-1, 2-0, unfinished
5. Daniel Young (NC) def. Joe Centola (WIT) 6-2, 6-2
6. Tony Ramsdell (NC) vs. Matt Levine (WIT) 6-0, 5-0, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Juan Rodriguez/Dan Alexander (WIT) def. Justin DeLuca/Tyler McLaughlin (NC) 8-6
2. Steve Carella/Tony Ramsdell (NC) def. Nate Gove/Ross Lyons (WIT) 8-6
3. David Drucker/Eliot Wuhrmann (NC) def. Joe Centola/Nathan Dube (WIT) 8-0
Match Notes
Wentworth 6-8, 6-5
Nichols 17-5, 10-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,2,1)
TCCC Quarterfinal: #7 Wentworth vs. #2 Nichols
Match moved to Pomfret School after lengthy rain delay
#2 Nichols advances to host #6 Endicott/ #3 Salve Regina winner
Official: Sandy Zimmerman T-2:50 A-20