(Courtesy of Nichols Sports Information)
POMFRET, Conn. – 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.
