Castrichini clinches for Seahawks with third-set win

NEWPORT, R.I. - Junior Brian Castrichini (Winchester, Mass.) rallied for a three-set victory at No. 4 singles to clinch the team match for Salve Regina University men's tennis, 5-4, over Wentworth Institute of Technology in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC).

The Seahawks (3-4; 3-1 TCCC) won their third straight match after taking a 2-1 lead before singles. Castrichini paired with sophomore Aaron Isch (Tolland, Conn.) for the first point with an 8-1 win at No. 2 doubles. Tim Nguyen (Windsor, Conn.) and Josh Welt (Oak Hill, Va.) won convincingly for the Leopards at No. 3 doubles.

Salve Regina's No. 1 doubles pair, Zachary Rosenfeld (Easton, Conn.) and Chad Strong (San Diego, Calif.), rallied from down a break to win 9-7.

"That set a positive tone for singles," said Seahawk head coach Joe Heckley. "Our players came together to support each other, showing great camaraderie, and keeping everybody level-headed. Zach and Chad rallied by playing their style - getting to the net."

The Seahawks had four points after singles wins from Rosenfeld and Isch at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. Wentworth (2-4; 2-3 TCCC) climbed back to tie the score with straight-set singles wins from sophomore Juan Rodriguez (Quito, Ecuador) at No. 1, sophomore Dave Filar (Wolcott, Conn.) at No. 5, and Welt at No. 6.

Castrichini dropped his first set to Tim Nguyen in a tiebreak (7-5) before winning 12 of the next 16 games.

"Brian started to use his set-up game more effectively rather than try to win points from the midcourt," said Heckley.

Salve Regina returns to the Leroy Avenue courts on its Newport campus on Monday with a match versus Endicott College (4 p.m.); Wentworth looks to end a four-match losing streak when it hosts Regis College on Monday.

Tennis Match Results
Wentworth vs Salve Regina
04/02/11 at Newport, R.I.
(Leroy Avenue courts)

Salve Regina 5, Wentworth 4

Singles competition
1. Juan Rodriguez (WIT) def. Chad Strong (SRU) 6-3, 6-1
2. Zachary Rosenfeld (SRU) def. Thuan Nguyen (WIT) 6-1, 6-0
3. Aaron Isch (SRU) def. Nate Gove (WIT) 6-0, 6-0
4. Brian Castrichini (SRU) def. Tim Nguyen (WIT) 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-2
5. Dave Filar (WIT) def. Colin Gunning (SRU) 6-3, 6-1
6. Josh Welt (WIT) def. Brian Sweeney (SRU) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Zachary Rosenfeld/Chad Strong (SRU) def. Nate Gove/Juan Rodriguez (WIT) 9-7
2. Brian Castrichini/Aaron Isch (SRU) def. Dave Filar/Thuan Nguyen (WIT) 8-1
3. Tim Nguyen/Josh Welt (WIT) def. Colin Gunning/Brian Sweeney (SRU) 8-2

Match Notes:
Wentworth 2-4; 2-3 TCCC
Salve Regina 3-4; 3-1 TCCC
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,3,5,1,6,4)
Official: self-officiated T-3:33 A-33