April 6, 2007                                                                                                                                

BRYANT MEN DEFEAT FRANKLIN PIERCE 9-0 IN MEN'S TENNIS

SMITHFIELD, RI -  The Bryant University men's tennis team snapped a four-match losing skid Friday afternoon thanks to a 9-0 win over Franklin Pierce in a match that was made up after a rainout last week. 

After opening the match by winning all three doubles points, the Bulldogs got off to a strong start in singles play thanks to a strong effort from freshman Dylan Whiting (Florence, Mass.).  Whiting rolled to a two-set win over Austin Gardella at No. 1 singles play, winning 6-3, 6-0.

Kevin Gardiner (Powder Springs, Ga.) followed suit with a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 2 while Craig Drushella (Harwich, Mass.) added a straight-set win at No. 3.  Battling unseasonably cold temperatures, the Bulldogs played well and didn't drop a single set on the blustery afternoon.  Senior Ben Caisse (Griswold, Conn.) earned a 6-2, 6-0 win over Michel Vitualano at No. 4.

The Bulldogs host Southern NH on Saturday at noon.

Men's Tennis @ Smithfield, RI
Bryant 9, Franklin Pierce 0

Singles
1. Dylan Whiting (BU) def. Austin Gardella (FPC), 6-3, 6-0
2. Kevin Gardiner (BU) def. Roland Oganyan (FPC), 6-0,6 -1
3. Craig Drushella (BU) def. Matt Robinson (FPC), 6-3, 6-2
4. Ben Caisse (BU) def. Michel Vitulano (FPC), 6-2, 6-0
5. Matt Shephard Lupo (BU) def. Ryan Strayer (FPC), 8-0
6. Kevin Levinson (BU) def. Matthijs Eppinga (FPC), 8-0

Doubles
1. Whiting/Shepard-Lupo (BU) def. Gardella/Robinson (FPC), 8-3
2. Gardiner/Drushella (BU) def. Oganyan/ Strayer (FPC), 8-1
3. Levinson/Caisse (BU) def. Vitulano/Eppinga (FPC), 8-5

Records:  Bryant 6-5 (5-1 NE-10) / Franklin Pierce 1-5 (1-5 NE-10)