Men's Tennis Beats Lesley, Earns Share of NECC Title
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College men's tennis team handed Lesley University its first loss of the season by an 8-1 final on Wednesday afternoon to claim a share of the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) regular season title.
Both Mitchell (10-2 overall, 7-1 NECC) and Lesley (9-1 overall, 7-1 NECC) finished the regular season with identical conference records. The teams split the regular season series, with the Lynx edging the Mariners in the first meeting by a 5-4 score on April 2. Lesley earned the title for the first time while Mitchell, the outright winner in 2009 and 2010, claimed the honor for the third straight season.
Mitchell took control by winning all three doubles matches to carry a 3-0 lead into the singles portion of the competition. The Mariners then rallied to win five out of the six singles matches to seal the victory.
Mitchell junior Kyle Carmona defeated David Newton at No. 1 singles by a final of 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. It marked the first time that Carmona had been taken to three sets during his collegiate career. Carmona and partner Rocco Devona also picked up an 8-2 win over Newton and Alex Zhitnik at No. 1 doubles.
Devona won in straight sets at No. 2 singles, defeating Nick Mattox by a final of 6-3, 6-3. Zhitnik dropped his singles match to Adam Samuels at the No. 4 position by scores of 6-0, 6-1.
The lone win for the Lynx came at No. 5 singles where Christian Domingo knocked off Andrew Small by a final of 6-2, 6-3. Domingo finished the season undefeated in conference play with a 7-0 singles record.
Carmona, Devona, Samuels and junior Tyler Engleberg each finished the regular season with undefeated conference records in singles play for the Mariners. Engleberg wrapped up his season with a hard-fought 7-5, 7-6 victory over Paolo DiPietrantonio at No. 3 singles.
Mitchell and Lesley will next compete at this weekend's NECC Men's Tennis Championship. The flighted tournament will be held on April 30 and May 1 at the Mitchell Tennis Courts in New London, Conn. Matches are slated to begin at 10 a.m. each day.