Men's Tennis Falls to Regis in NECC Finals
WESTON, Mass. – In a rematch of last year's title match, the Regis College men's tennis team defeated Mitchell College, 7-2, on Saturday afternoon to claim the program's first New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championship, while also avenging last year's defeat.
NECC Tournament MVP Sophorn Nop and All-Tournament Singles selection Michael Beluch led the way for the Pride after winning matches in singles and doubles play. The Pride close out the season with a 12-8 mark, while Mitchell finishes the year at 8-6.
Regis was able to jump out to an early 3-0 lead after sweeping all three doubles matches. Beluch and Jeff Parrish defeated junior Zachary Simmons and freshman Graham Cavanaugh at No. 1 doubles, 8-2.
The All-Tournament Doubles tandem of Andy White and Austin Nace were able to handle senior Rocco Devona and junior Randy Coons at second doubles, 8-1. Nop and Matt Smolko, who were also selected to the All-Tournament Doubles Team, closed out doubles play with an 8-3 win over sophomore Chris McKeon and freshman Michael Hartley.
In singles play, Beluch was able to extend the Pride's lead to 4-0 after beating Devona at first singles (6-1, 6-2). Beluch's win proved to be critical, as the Mariners came away with back-to-back wins at No. 2 and No. 3 singles to cut the Pride lead in half. Simmons defeated White (6-3, 6-1) in second singles while Cavanaugh got past Parrish at the third position, 6-2 and 6-2.
After falling in the first set 3-6, Nop was able to claw his way back and take the next set to force a third set. Nop came away with a 6-0 win and ultimately clinched the victory for the Pride with the deciding point.
The Crimson & Gold closed out the match with two more wins, courtesy of Mouhamed Diallo and Biruk Legesse at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively. Diallo defeated Coons (7-5, 6-0) while Legesse beat McKeon in three sets (4-6, 6-4, 6-2).
Joining Nop and Beluch on the All-Tournament Singles Team was Devona and Simmons of Mitchell and Becker College's Brittan Morris. Simmons and Cavanaugh also joined White, Nace, Nop, and Smolko on the All-Tournament Doubles Team.
