April 14, 2007

STONEHILL DEFEATS BRYANT 5-4 IN MEN'S TENNIS SATURDAY

SMITHFIELD, RI - Stonehill College sophomore Will Herchel (Hampden, Mass.) pulled out a 7-5 win in the second set at No. 5 singles broke a 4-4 tie and helped lift the visiting Skyhawks to a 5-4 men's tennis win over Bryant University here Saturday afternoon.

Bryant, which opened the match winning two of three doubles matches, could manage just two wins in singles play in falling for the second time in conference play this season.  Stonehill (13-4, 9-1 NE-10) carried over the momentum from a thrilling doubles win at No. 2 to pick up four singles wins and capture the match.  Stonehill's tandem of Matt Grabala (Bristol, Conn.) and Mike Mashkevich (Framingham, Mass.) edged Kevin Gardiner (Powder Springs, Ga.) and Craig Drushella (Harwich, Mass.) 9-8 (9-8 in the tiebreak) at second doubles. 

Bryant (9-5, 8-2 NE-10) will travel to Assumption on Sunday to wrap up the regular season.  Stonehill will host Saint Anselm in a makeup game Sunday. 

Stonehill 5, Bryant 4

Singles
1. Matt Grabala (S) def. Dylan Whiting (B), 6-3, 6-4
2. Mike Mashkevich (S) def. Kevin Gardiner (B), 6-3, 6-3
3. Jason Allegretti (S) def. Craig Drushella (B), 6-1, 6-2
4. Zach Goodman (B) def. Mike Leone (S), 6-0, 7-5
5. Will Herchel (S) def. Ben Caisse (B), 6-4, 7-5
6. Kevin Levinson (B) def. Dustin Marshall (S), 6-1, 6-3

Doubles
1. Whiting/Zach Goodman (B) def. Allegretti / Herchel (S), 8-2
2. Grabala / Mashkevich (S) def. Gardiner/Drushella (B) , 9-8 (9-8)
3. Levinson/Shephard-Lupo (B) def. Leone / Andy DeVita (S), 8-3

Records:  Bryant 9-5 (8-2 NE-10),  Stonehill 13-4 (9-1 NE-10)