Merrimack Tops Stonehill in Regular Season Finale, 8-1


Freshman Eric Ringstad posted an impressive three set victory at No. 1 singles.

Skyhawks head into NE-10 tournament seeded fourth, will host first round match

EASTON, Mass. (April 13, 2012) – Merrimack College, ranked fourth in this week's NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, closed out the regular season with an 8-1 victory over eighth-ranked Stonehill College in Northeast-10 Conference men's tennis action at Charles Watt Tennis Courts today.

Stonehill (14-4, 8-3 NE-10) will be seeded fourth in the upcoming NE-10 Tournament and will host a first round matchup on Tuesday, April 17, at 2 p.m. The Skyhawks opponent is still to be determined with the results of Saturday's final regular season contests. Merrimack (15-7, 11-0 NE-10) has already clinched its second-straight NE-10 regular season championship and will receive a first round bye to the NE-10 semifinals next Thursday, April 19, at 2 p.m.

Senior Max Eppley (Malaga, Spain) led five double winners for Merrimack in its fourth straight win. He teamed up with classmate Sean Pahler (Rumson, N.J./Fair Haven) for an 8-2 victory No. 1 doubles as the Warriors swept the three doubles matches. He followed that up with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Stonehill sophomore Nick Hyzak (Guilford, Conn./Guilford) in No. 2 singles. Pahler was also a double-winner for the Warriors, adding a 7-6 (7-0), 6-4 decision over senior Aaron Bergeron (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) at No. 5.

Match Highlights

Juniors Petar Golijanin (Novi Sad, Serbia) and Chris Toegemann (Narragansett, R.I./Bishop Hendricken) as well as freshman Vince Bellino (Amesbury, Mass./Andover) rounded out the double-winners for the Warriors.

Freshman Eric Ringstad (Fairbanks, Alaska/Monroe Catholic) picked up a point for Stonehill as he rallied for a 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 triumph over Merrimack sophomore Chris Barnhart (Longmeadow, Mass./Longmeadow) at No. 1 singles.

Merrimack 8, Stonehill 1 

Singles

1. Eric Ringstad (STO) def. Chris Barnhart (MER) 3-6, 6-1, 6-0

2. Max Eppley (MER) def. Nick Hyzak (STO) 6-4, 7-5

3. Petar Golijanin (MER) def. Chris Martin (STO) 6-1, 4-6, 6-0

4. Vince Bellino (MER) def. Thomas Alaimo (STO) 6-2, 4-6, 14-12

5. Sean Pahler (MER) def. Aaron Bergeron (STO) 7-6 (7-0), 6-4

6. Chris Toegemann (MER) def. Brett Armstrong (STO) 6-3, 7-5

Doubles

1. Eppley/Pahler (MER) def. Martin/Bergeron (STO) 8-2

2. Barnhart/Bellino (MER) def. Ringstad/Hyzak (STO) 8-4

3. Golijanin/Toegemann (MER) def. Alaimo/Armstrong (STO) 8-3

* - doubles matches played first