Salve Regina falls to Nichols in Connecticut

POMFRET, Conn. – Junior Jonathan Roy (Rowley, Mass.) earned his first career victory as the Nichols College men's tennis team defeated Salve Regina, 8-1, in its Commonwealth Coast Conference opener Saturday night at the Pomfret School.

The Bison (9-4, 1-0 CCC) have now won their conference opener for the eighth season in a row. The last time Nichols lost its conference opener was the 2005-06 season against Eastern Nazarene.

The Bison swept through the doubles matches. Freshman Keenan Hughes (Aurora, N.Y.) and senior Cam Lewis (Bolton, Conn.) took the win at No. 2 doubles over seniors Matthew Caroll (Hackensack, N.J.) and Monaf Awwa (Old Lyme, Conn.), 8-0.

Senior captain Brandon Roode (Griswold, Conn.) – defending CCC Player of the Week – and freshman Austin DuBois (Simsbury, Conn.) took care of business in the top flight, winning 8-1 over the freshmen duo of Jack Lawlor (York, Maine) and Donovan Gangewere (Exton, Pa.).

At No. 3 doubles, Roy and junior Josh Halpern (Secaucus, N.J.) got the best of juniors Ben Campbell (Carolina, R.I.) and Matt Gingras (Wethersfield, Conn.), 8-3.

The Bison continued to roll in the singles matches. Freshman Gage Fox (Brandon, Fla.) got things started at No. 5 singles, winning 6-1,6-1 over freshman Kevin Brocks (West Sand Lake, N.Y.).

Nichols earned clean sweeps at No. 1 and No. 2 singles. Roode defeated Gangewere 6-0, 6-0 while Halpern defeated Lawlor 6-0, 6-0, respectively.

Sophomore Jake Zapatka (Wethersfield, Conn.) took down Carroll 6-3, 6-0 at No. 3 singles while DuBois defeated Awwa 8-0 at No. 4 singles.

Salve Regina (1-7, 0-2 CCC) finished the day by picking up its only win of the match. Freshman Will Masse (Wyoming, R.I.) defeated freshman Rees Kamp (North Haven, Conn.), 8-3.

The Bison travel to take on conference foe Eastern Nazarene on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. The Seahawks host Roger Williams on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.