Men's Tennis Upended by Nichols, 7-2

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene men's tennis team endured its first league loss of the season, falling to Nichols 7-2 Saturday afternoon at the ENC Tennis Courts. The Lions slip to 7-5 on the year and 3-1 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Bison, ranked #18 in the Northeast Region by the ITA, jump to 10-4 overall and 2-0 in conference matches.

The visitors owned a 2-1 edge at the conclusion of doubles play, claiming victories at the top two positions.

Austin Steelman (Darlington, Md.) and Nick Thompson (York, Pa.) dropped an 8-2 decision at the No. 1 spot. Tim Luz (Cumberland, R.I.) and Sam McKay-Corkum (Rehoboth, Mass.) suffered an 8-3 setback at the second slot. Kevin Paterno (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Tyler Perron (Plympton, Mass.) recorded the home side's lone doubles win on the day, prevailing 8-1 at the No. 3 position.

Nichols picked up five singles wins to seal its 10th victory of the season.

Steelman captured a 6-4 win in the first set at the top singles slot but Brandon Roode, ranked 15th in the region by the ITA, responded with a 7-6 decision in the second frame. Roode edged Steelman in a third-set super-tiebreaker 10-6.

Perron also absorbed a three-set loss, falling to Carlos De La Cruz at the No. 5 position. Perron claimed the opening set 6-2 before De La Cruz stormed back to earn a 6-4 win in the second and a 10-5 decision in the tie-breaker.

McKay-Corkum fell 6-0, 6-1 at the second spot while Luz was blanked 6-0, 6-0 at the third slot. Paterno dropped a 6-3, 6-4 decision at the No. 4 spot to Nichols' David Drucker.

Gregory Parenteau (Wolcott, Conn.) tallied Eastern Nazarene's only singles victory in the match. Parenteau topped Jonathan Roy 6-3, 6-1 at the sixth singles position.

Up next, the Lions will head north to take on Gordon April 10.