MEN'S TENNIS DEFEATS HARTFORD 6-1 TUESDAY

 April 21, 2009

MEN'S TENNIS DOWNS HARTFORD 6-1 TUESDAY

BOX SCORE  

Junior Kevin Gardiner (above) was a "Monster" at No. 3 singles according to head coach Ron Gendron (Bryant Sports Info photo).

HARTFORD, CT - The Bryant University men's tennis team evened its record to 9-9 on the season with a solid 6-1 win over the University of Hartford Tuesday afternoon.  The Bulldogs return home Wednesday afternoon to host Brandeis University for Senior Day at the Bryant Tennis Center.

Winning the doubles point to open the match, the Bulldogs cruised through singles play to earn the victory. Cristian Balestrieri picked up a 6-4, 6-4 win over Rich Liberman at No. 1 singles while Kevin Gardiner came up huge in singles play as the junior battled Aneil Bhalla to a thrilling win in a third-set tiebreaker.  Gardiner won the opening set 6-4, but Bhalla rallied back to win the second 6-2 forcing a tiebreaker.  In the extra frame, the native of Powder Springs, GA rolled to a 10-3 victory. 

The Bulldogs will honor senior Jose Rodriguez prior to the start of Wednesday's Senior Day match .

Apr 21, 2009 at Hartford, CT
Bryant University 6, Hartford 1

Singles
1. Cristian Balestrieri (BRYANT) def. Rich Liberman (HARTFORD) 6-4, 6-4
2. Eric Dove (HARTFORD) def. Jose Rodriguez (BRYANT) 6-4, 3-6, 10-8
3. Kevin Gardiner (BRYANT) def. Aneil Bhalla (HARTFORD) 6-4, 2-6, 10-3
4. Tom Nowak (BRYANT) def. Filip Miletic (HARTFORD) 6-1, 6-1
5. Nicholai Hill (BRYANT) def. Aaron Kooden (HARTFORD) 6-0, 6-0
6. Zehn Laliwala (BRYANT) by default

Doubles
1. Dove/ Bhalla (HARTFORD) vs. Hill/ Laliwala (BRYANT) unfinished
2. Balestrieri/Andres Orobitg (BRYANT) def. Miletic/ Kooden (HARTFORD) 8-2
3. Gardiner/ Nowak (BRYANT) by default

Record: Bryant 9-9