October 1, 2007

MEN'S TENNIS FRESHMAN JOSE RODRIGUEZ WINS ITA CHAMPIONSHIP

Jose Rodriguez (right), pictured with coach Ron Gendron at a tournament earlier this fall, won the Flight B Singles at this past weekend's Wilson / ITA Division II East Regionals in Bloomsburg, PA.  Congratulations Jose !

BLOOMSBURG, PA - Bryant University men's tennis freshman Jose Rodriguez became Bryant's first men's tennis ITA champion Monday since Roman Pavlik '97, knocking off Arpit Sharma of Kutztown in the finals of B Singles by a score of 7-5, 6-2 on Monday.  

Rodriguez posted four wins over the weekend to earn a spot in the finals Monday.  Rodriguez trailed Sharma 4-1 in the first, but won 10 of the next 11 games to win 7-5.   He would roll  to a 6-2 win in the second to claim the title.

Bryant's Tom Novak and Kevin Gardiner each earned wins in the first round with Novak reaching round two Saturday after a win over 6-01, 6-0 win over Richter of Philadelphia.

Senior Craig Drushella made it to the second round on Saturday with two wins while the doubles team of Novak and Matt Shephard-Lupop reached the semifinals of the B Doubles Sunday, thanks to an 8-0 win over Franco /Rubins of Philadelphia Sciences, an 8-5 win over Dowling's Gonzalez and Munoz, and another 8-5 win Sunday over Azevedo and Hansenei of Shippensburg.