Junior Brett Armstrong is a combined 20-3 in singles and doubles play after the fall schedule. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane) |
Skyhawks head into spring portion of schedule with 6-0 overall record
EASTON, Mass. (February 14, 2013) – The Stonehill College men's tennis team has been picked fourth in the Northeast-10 Conference's preseason coaches' poll the league announced on Wednesday.
Stonehill, ranked ninth in the first NCAA Division II East Regional rankings released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) for the 2012-13 season at the conclusion of the fall season, collected 56 points. Defending NE-10 regular season and tournament champions Merrimack College is the preseason favorite, receiving nine of ten first place votes and 81 points. Bentley University is picked second, receiving the remaining first place vote, with 69 points, while Southern New Hampshire University is ranked third (56 points). Adelphi University rounds out the top five (51).
Stonehill is off to a 6-0 start to its 2012-13 season, including a 3-0 mark in Northeast-10 Conference matches. Included in the Skyhawks fall wins is a key 5-4 victory over Chestnut Hill College, ranked tenth in the ITA East Regional rankings. Stonehill also won its home invitational to cap the fall season and had some successful runs by individuals at the ITA East Regional in September.
Leading the way for Stonehill after the fall season is junior Brett Armstrong (Manville, R.I./Mount Saint Charles Academy) with a combined 20-3 record in singles and doubles play. Sophomore Thomas Alaimo (North Andover, Mass./Central Catholic) is a combined 16-6, including a 9-2 doubles mark with Armstrong. Sophomore Eric Ringstad (Fairbanks, Alaska/Monroe Catholic) is a combined 12-7 while competing at No. 1 singles and doubles for the Skyhawks.
Stonehill (6-0, 3-0 NE-10) opens its spring semester schedule on Sunday, March 3, when it plays a doubleheader in Central Florida to open its spring break schedule against Berry (Ga.) College and Moravian (Pa.) College. The Skyhawks next home match is scheduled for Thursday, March 14, when they host Eastern Nazarene College at 3:30 p.m.
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