Fairbanks, Alaska, native guides Skyhawks to home court advantage in playoffs 

EASTON, Mass. (April 17, 2012) – Stonehill College freshman Eric Ringstad (Fairbanks, Alaska/Monroe Catholic) has been named the Northeast-10 Conference Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week for the eighth time by the league office.

Ringstad, who has also been named the NE-10 Player of the Week twice in his rookie season, posted a combined 4-2 record in singles and doubles play in a 2-1 week for Stonehill as the Skyhawks clinched home court advantage for the opening round of the NE-10 Tournament. He posted a 2-1 record at both No. 1 singles and while teaming up with sophomore Nick Hyzak (Guilford, Conn./Guilford) at No. 2 doubles. He was a double-winner in Stonehill's 9-0 win at Saint Anselm College, notching a straight sets win over freshman Nick Schwab after he and Hyzak claimed an 8-4 doubles decision. Ringstad and Hyzak also posted a key 8-6 doubles win against Adelphi University in the Skyhawks home court clinching 5-4 win before he closed out the week with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 comeback win over Merrimack College's Chris Barnhart.

Ringstad has posted a 34-11 combined record in singles and doubles play for Stonehill in his first collegiate season. He is 18-5 in singles, going 15-3 at No. 1 singles for the Skyhawks, including a 9-2 mark in NE-10 action. Ringstad is a combined 16-6 for doubles, going 14-5 with Hyzak, including a 7-2 clip in the NE-10, going 10-3 at No. 2. The duo reached the semifinals of the B-doubles bracket at the Wilson/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) East Regional in September. Ringstad also advanced to the Round of 16 for the Championship singles bracket at the ITA East Regional.

Fourth-seeded Stonehill (14-4, 8-3 NE-10), ranked eighth in the NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, opens postseason play on Tuesday as it hosts fifth-seeded Adelphi at Charles Watt Tennis Courts at 2 p.m. The winner advances to Thursday's semifinal round to face top-seeded Merrimack College at 2 p.m.