Men's Tennis Drops 6-3 Decision to Little East Foe RIC

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- In a very tightly contested match, the visiting Anchormen of Rhode Island College posted a 6-3 win over Bridgewater State University in Little East Conference (LEC) men's tennis action on Saturday afternoon at the Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts.

The Anchormen won five of six singles flights to erase a 2-1 deficit after doubles play en route to the conference victory.  RIC improves to 4-6 on the season and 2-2 in the Little East, while the host Bears slip to 2-8 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

Two of the three doubles flight went to a tie-breaker, while five of the six singles matches went three sets.

BSU senior Jesse Gotlib (Dartmouth, Mass.) and freshman Matt McGee (Warren, R.I.) teamed up for an 9-8  (7-5 tie-breaker) victory at second doubles, while the third flight tandem of senior Cody Farrell(Scituate, Mass.) and sophomore Michael Mello (Dartmouth, Mass.) won 8-2 to give the Bears the early 2-1 lead.

Senior Alex Werchadlo (Woonsocket, R.I.) and freshman Troy Derrick (Rumford, R.I.) recorded the Anchormen's lone doubles point with an 9-8 (7-3 tie-breaker) decision at the top flight.

Freshman Brett Taggart (North Kingstown, R.I.) tied the match at 2-2 as he rebounded from a set down at fourth singles to win in three sets, 0-6, 6-3, 6-1.  Derrick followed with a 6-1, 6-4 straight set victory at the second flight to give the Anchormen the lead.  Sophomore Tim Holzinger (Foster, R.I.) made it 4-2 in favor of the visitors as he also bounced back from a set down with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 triumph at number three.

BSU sophomore Michael Mello (Dartmouth, Mass.) pulled the Bears to within 4-3 with a three set triumph at sixth singles.  After dropping the first set, 6-1, Mello battled back to win the next two, 6-1, 6-2.

Werchadlo secured the victory for RIC with 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 decision at the top singles flight. Freshman Seongkyeong Kim (North Providence, R.I.) split the first two sets at the fifth flight, 0-6, 6-2, before winning the third set and the match in a tie-breaker, 7-6 (7-4).

Both teams are back in action on Monday afternoon.  The Bears entertain Little East Conference rival Western Connecticut State University at three, while the Anchormen host non-conference foe Thomas College at four.