WALTHAM, Mass. (Oct. 9) – The Nichols College men's tennis team had a strong showing on the final day of play at the Stonehill Invitational to win the team title by one point over the host Skyhawks. Steve Carella, Brandon Roode, and Arsen Gasparyan all won their singles flights on Sunday to boost the Bison to the team title.

Nichols finished with 21 points, while Stonehill totaled 20. UMass Dartmouth and Roger Williams each had 10 points, and Salve Regina came in with three. Bridgewater State wrapped up the field with two points. 

At No. 2 singles, Roode rolled into the championship round with an 8-2 pro set win over Zach Rosenfeld of Salve Regina in the quarterfinals and a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Wesley Esthimer of Bridgewater in the semifinals. Facing Stonehill's Chris Martin in the championship on Sunday, he closed out with a 7-5 tiebreak win in the second set for a 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) win.

Carella played some of the best tennis of his career, cruising into the third singles flight championship with an 8-2 pro set victory over Aaron Bergeron of Stonehill in the quarterfinals before a 6-1, 6-3 win over UMass Dartmouth's Brennan Dugas in the semis. Carella went three sets with Thomas Alaimo of Stonehill in the championship, winning 6-4, 3-6, 10-7, after Alaimo double faulted the last two points for Carella's tiebreak win.

Gasparyan only dropped two points through the semifinal rounds, winning an 8-2 pro set against Taylor Whitcomb of Stonehill in the quarterfinals and 6-0, 6-0 in the semis vs. Jake Diamantopoulos of Salve Regina University. Facing another CCC opponent in the championship, Gasparyan dismissed Ryan Swanson of Roger Williams University, 6-3, 6-3.

David Drucker made his way through the top flight singles consolation round to defeat Salve Regina's Aaron Isch in an 8-5 pro set finals match. On his way, he also dealt Roger Williams' Jeff DeNunzio an 8-2 consolation semifinal loss.

In doubles action, Isiah Prosper and Paul Healy were edged, 8-6 in the quarterfinals by Alaimo and Brett Armstrong before defeating Matt Bejtlich and Brian Lui of UMass Dartmouth, 8-6, in the consolation semifinals. In the Consolation finals, the Bison duo fell in a tiebreak, 9-8 (7-5) to the Skyhawks' Jared Drzal and Jonathan Sanders.

The tournament wraps up the fall portion of the Bison's schedule.



Singles Champions
qf Karsten Rathlev (UMass Dartmouth) def. David Drucker (Nichols College) 8-3

#1 Singles Consolation
sf David Drucker (Nichols College) def. Jeff DeNunzio (Roger Williams University) 8-2
fi David Drucker (Nichols College) def. Aaron Isch (Salve Regina University) 8-5

#2 Singles Champions
qf Brandon Roode (Nichols College) def. Zach Rosenfeld (Salve Regina University) 8-2
sf Brandon Roode (Nichols College) def. Wesley Esthimer (Bridgewater State University) 6-3, 6-2
c  Brandon Roode (Nichols College) def. Chris Martin (Stonehill College) 6-0, 7-6 (7-5)

#3 Singles Champions
qf Steve Carella (Nichols College) def. Aaron Bergeron (Stonehill College) 8-2
sf Steve Carella (Nichols College) def. Brennan Dugas (UMass Dartmouth) 6-1, 6-3
c Steve Carella (Nichols College) def. Thomas Alaimo (Stonehill College) 6-4, 3-6, 10-7

#4 Singles Champions
qf Arsen Gasparyan (Nichols College) def. Taylor Whitcomb (Stonehill College) 8-2
sf Arsen Gasparyan (Nichols College) def. Jake Diamantopoulos (Salve Regina University) 6-0, 6-0
c Arsen Gasparyan (Nichols College) def. Ryan Swanson (Roger Williams University) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles Championship
qf Thomas Alaimo/Brett Armstrong (Stonehill College) def. Isiah Prosper/Paul Healy (Nichols College) 8-6

Doubles Consolation
sf Isiah Prosper/Paul Healy (Nichols College) def. Matt Bejtlich/Brian Lui (UMass Dartmouth) 8-6
fi Jared Drzal/Jonathan Sanders (Stonehill College) def. Isiah Prosper/Paul Healy (Nichols College) 9-8 (7-5)