Hawks control Seahawks in CCC match

NEWPORT, R.I. - Roger Williams University men's tennis improved to 3-0 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) with a 9-0 decision over cross-state rival Salve Regina University at the Seahawks' Newport campus.

The Hawks improve to 6-3 overall while Salve Regina drops to 1-8 (0-3 in CCC play).

Roger Williams swept the doubles while dropping just four games in three matches. Top doubles pair of Eric Laboissonniere (Cumberland, R.I.) and Ryan Swanson (West Newbury, Mass.) def. Seahawk freshmen Donovan Gangewere (Exton, Pa.) and Jack Lawlor (York, Maine).

Salve Regina's senior pair of Monaf Awwa (Old Lyme, Conn.) and Matthew Carroll (Hackensack, N.J.) made a brief rally in the middle of their eight-game pro-set at second doubles with several net rushes, but freshman Grant Rosenburg (Melville, N.Y.) and Jonah Schwartz (Orange, Conn.) prevailed with an 8-2 score.

Meanwhile, freshman Kevin Brocks (West Sand Lake, N.Y.) and junior Matt Gingras (Wethersfield, Conn.) took control with an early break, but relinquished to junior Andrew Amarone (North Haven, Conn.) and senior Kyle Bull (Pleasantville, N.Y.), 8-2.

In singles, the Hawks barely struggled to sweep a dozen sets. Salve Regina's Lawlor won more games in his match (five, all in the second set), than the rest of his teammates combined.

Laboissonniere took care of first singles, Schwartz survived Lawlor's comeback bid at second singles, Rosenberg and Bull were victorious at third and fourth, respectively, by identical 6-0,6-1 scores.

Freshman Carl Thurston (Wallingford, Conn.) won his match at fifth singles while sophomore Alex Bonnano (West Hartford, Conn.) handled Salve Regina's reliable Will Masse (Wyoming, R.I.).

The Seahawks host UMass Dartmouth on Thursday in a non-league match before breaking for Easter. Roger Williams is at Coast Guard on Thursday before hosting three-time defending champion Nichols College on Saturday.