Stonehill Set to Host Adelphi in NE-10 First Round


Freshman Eric Ringstad has had a strong rookie season for the Skyhawks at No. 1 singles. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

Fourth-seeded Skyhawks and fifth-seeded Adelphi to clash at Watt Courts Tuesday at 2 p.m.

EASTON, Mass. (April 16, 2012) – Fourth-seeded Stonehill College, ranked eighth in the most recent NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, hosts fifth-seeded Adelphi University in first round action of the 2012 Northeast-10 Conference Men's Tennis Tournament at Charles Watt Tennis Courts tomorrow at 2 p.m.

Stonehill (14-4, 8-3 NE-10) is making its 13th appearance in the NE-10 Tournament, having captured one championship in 2009 and reaching the championship match twice overall. Adelphi (9-10, 7-4 NE-10) is making its third-straight NE-10 tournament appearance since joining the Conference prior to the 2009-10 season. The winner of Tuesday's first round matchup will advance to Thursday's semifinal round to face top-seeded Merrimack College (15-7, 11-0 NE-10) at Bellevue Country Club at 2 p.m. The NE-10 Championship will be hosted by the top remaining seed on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Freshman Eric Ringstad (Fairbanks, Alaska/Monroe Catholic) has made a huge impact for Stonehill in his first collegiate season, posting a combined 34-11 record in singles and doubles play so far this year. He is 18-5 overall in singles matches, including a 9-2 mark in NE-10 play, while going 15-3 at No. 1. Ringstad and sophomore Nick Hyzak (Guilford, Conn./Guilford) have teamed up to post a 14-5 doubles record, going 7-2 in the NE-10, with a 10-3 mark at No. 2.


Senior Aaron Bergeron has helped the Skyhawks reach the NE-10 Tournament all four of his years with the program.

Freshman Thomas Alaimo (North Andover, Mass./Central Catholic) has also made an immediate contribution, posting a combined 29-12 mark for singles and doubles. He is 16-6 in singles play, including an 8-3 clip in the NE-10, while posting a 12-5 doubles record with sophomore Brett Armstrong (Manville, R.I./Mount Saint Charles Academy), going 9-4 at No. 3.

Senior Aaron Bergeron (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) is 55-16 (.775) in singles play over his career, including a 31-5 (.861) clip in NE-10 matches. He is also a combined 45-23 (.662) in doubles play, including a 26-9 (.743) mark in NE-10 matches. This season Bergeron is 15-7 overall in singles matches, including a 7-3 clip against NE-10 members, to go with a 14-6 doubles record, including an 8-6 mark with junior Chris Martin (Darien, Conn./Darien). The duo is 8-5 at No. 1 and 5-2 in NE-10 matches.

Junior Andreas Hammar (Norrtajle, Sweden) is the top player for Adelphi posting a 14-5 record at No. 1 singles for the Panthers, including an 11-0 mark in NE-10 play. Classmate Bryan Kallenberg (Port Washington, N.Y./Schreiber) has posted a 13-7 singles record, including a 10-1 clip in NE-10 matches, and going 12-4 at No. 4. Freshmen Chiwete Njokanma (Lagos, Nigeria) and Ryan White (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) have combined to post a 12-3 record at No. 3 doubles, including an 8-2 mark in NE-10 play.

Tomorrow marks the second-straight year Stonehill and Adelphi have met in the postseason. Then fifth-seeded Stonehill clipped 4th-seeded Adelphi in last year's quarterfinal round with a 5-2 victory in Garden City, N.Y., as the Skyhawks rallied from a 2-1 deficit following doubles play. Bergeron clinched the victory for Stonehill with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Joseph Carbone at No. 4 singles. Tim Fayed posted a huge 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 1 singles, while Martin and Hyzak both collected straight sets wins at No. 3 and 5 singles, respectively to aid the comeback.

These two teams met during the regular season just last Wednesday with Stonehill claiming a 5-4 win to clinch home court in the first round. Bergeron and Martin were both double-winners to lead the Skyhawks to the big win. The duo combined for an 8-5 victory at No. 1 doubles over Hammar and junior Adrish Tewarie (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) as the Skyhawks carried a 2-1 advantage following doubles play. Martin then cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 win over Panthers freshman Ryan Villarruel (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's Boys) at No. 3 singles, while Bergeron was leading 6-2, 5-3 at No. 5 when Tewarie retired due to injury.

2012 Northeast-10 Conference
Men's Tennis Championship

First Round
Tuesday, April 17 (at higher seeds)
#6 Le Moyne (7-8, 6-5 NE-10) at #3 Southern New Hampshire (10-8, 9-2 NE-10), 4 p.m.
#5 Adelphi (9-10, 7-4 NE-10) at #4 Stonehill (14-4, 8-3 NE-10), 2 p.m.

Semifinals
Thursday, April 19 (at higher seeds)
Le Moyne/Southern N.H. winner at #2 Bentley (14-5, 10-1 NE-10), 2 p.m.
Adelphi/Stonehill winner at #1 Merrimack (15-7, 11-0 NE-10), 2 p.m.

Championship
Saturday, April 21 (at highest remaining seed)
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.