December 7, 2007

MEN'S TENNIS RANKED NO. 5 REGIONALLY

SMITHFIELD, RI - After a successful fall tennis season, the Bryant University Men's Tennis Team is ranked fifth in the East Region in the first Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II Regional Poll.

Bryant is the highest ranked team in the Northeast-10 Conference, followed by Stonehill College which is ranked at No. 8 in the ITA East Region poll.  This is the highest ranking in school's history for a men's tennis team.

During the fall season, the Bulldogs defeated Franklin Pierce, Saint Anselm and Adelphi, and had a good performance in the Regional ITA, held in October in Bloomsburg, PA where junior Jose Rodriguez became the second Bryant player to win an ITA Championship. 

Individually, freshman Cristian Balestrieri is ranked No. 12 by the ITA while Rodriguez and Balestrieri are ranked No. 9 in doubles by the ITA. 

The Bulldogs will resume their 2007-08 schedule March 11 hosting Bentley College at the Bryant Tennis Courts.