BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Men’s Tennis team rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Colby-Sawyer College 5-4 Wednesday afternoon and advance to The Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship.
On a cold and windy day, the Hawks opened up the match with an 8-2 win by Jeff DeNunzio (Barrington, R.I.) and Kyle Baker (Bolton, Conn.) over Jamie Thormann and Chris Lavoie at third doubles. Yet the Chargers came back to take the lead, as Gustav Norberg and Adam Whitman defeated David Lange (Great Neck, N.Y.) and Dan Kleitz (Wethersfield, Conn.) 8-5 at #1, followed by another 8-5 victory at #2, this time by Ben Dabush and Robert Barnes over Kevin Erikson (Tolland, Conn.) and Nicholas Hawvermale (Bethlehem, Conn.).
Trailing 2-1, Baker evened the match at two apiece with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Barnes at #6 singles. Jason Pacino (North Reading, Mass.) would regain the lead for Roger Williams at #5 singles, winning 6-2, 6-2 over Lavoie. Erikson’s 6-2, 6-3 victory over Bryan Racz at #4 gave the Hawks their crucial fourth point, needing only one more win to advance to the championship.
Ultimately, Kleitz would punch the Hawks’ ticket to their second straight TCCC Championship with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Adam Whitman. As Kleitz was wrapping up his win, Norberg and Dabush were concurrently in match point, with Norberg taking his #1 match 7-5, 6-1 against DeNunzio and Dabush beating Lange 6-3, 6-4 at #2.
Roger Williams (16-6, 11-0 TCCC) will look to claim its second straight TCCC title Saturday afternoon against the winner of the other semifinal matchup between #2 Nichols College and #3 Salve Regina University, who play tomorrow. Colby-Sawyer closes out the season with a record of 10-11 and 7-4 in the TCCC.
Tennis Match Results
Colby-Sawyer College vs Roger Williams
04/28/10 at Bristol, R.I.
Roger Williams 5, Colby-Sawyer College 4
Singles competition:
1. Gustav Norberg (CSC) def. Jeff DeNunzio (RWU) 7-5, 6-1
2. Ben Dabush (CSC) def. David Lange (RWU) 6-3, 6-4
3. Dan Kleitz (RWU) def. Adam Whitman (CSC) 6-3, 6-3
4. Kevin Erikson (RWU) def. Bryan Racz (CSC) 6-2, 6-3
5. Jason Pacino (RWU) def. Chris Lavoie (CSC) 6-2, 6-3
6. Kyle Baker (RWU) def. Robert Barnes (CSC) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles competition:
1. Gustav Norberg/Adam Whitman (CSC) def. David Lange/Dan Kleitz (RWU) 8-5
2. Ben Dabush/Robert Barnes (CSC) def. Kevin Erikson/Nicholas Hawvermale (RWU) 8-5
3. Jeff DeNunzio/Kyle Baker (RWU) def. Jamie Thormann/Chris Lavoie (CSC) 8-2
Match Notes:
Colby-Sawyer College 10-11, 7-4 TCCC
Roger Williams 16-6, 11-0 TCCC
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,5,4,3,2,1)
The Commonwealth Coast Conference Semifinals
#1 Roger Williams vs. #4 Colby-Sawyer
Roger Williams advances to the TCCC Championship