Merrimack Defeats Men's Tennis, 6-3


Freshman Dimitri Vlassov won both his singles and doubles matches on Wednesday.

Belov, Majewski and Akwei keep Warriors unbeaten in NE-10 play as double-winners

EASTON, Mass. (April 6, 2016) – Merrimack College, ranked fifth in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) East Regional rankings, swept the top four singles positions to clinch a 6-3 victory over Stonehill College in Northeast-10 Conference men's tennis action inside the Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex today.

Merrimack remained unbeaten in NE-10 play by clinching the win as it swept the top four singles flights after winning two of three doubles matches. Sophomore Mikhail Belov (Krasnoarmeyskoy, Russia) led the Warriors by posting wins at No. 1 singles and doubles. He teamed up with freshman Laurence Akwei (Johannesburg, South Africa) for an 8-3 doubles win and then followed that up with a hard-fought 6-3, 6-7, 10-8 singles triumph over Stonehill sophomore Nikolay Lisichenok (Danvers, Massachusetts/Danvers). Akwei was also a double-winner for Merrimack, adding a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 4 singles against sophomore Jeffrey Gagnon (Providence, Rhode Island/The Wheeler School).

Junior Nick Majewski (Brewster, Massachusetts/Nauset Regional) added both singles and doubles points for Merrimack. He combined with freshman Tyler Clontz (Naples, Florida/IMG Academy) to grind out a 9-7 win at No. 2 doubles before following it up with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 2 singles against junior Joan Castillo (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/St. Joseph School). Senior Miguel Belfort (Caracas, Venezuela) rounded out the Warriors winners in the match at No. 3 singles.

Freshman Dimitri Vlassov (Marblehead, Massachusetts/Marblehead) was a double-winner for Stonehill. He teamed up with classmate Michael Doody (Franklin, Massachusetts/Mount Saint Charles Academy) for a tough 9-8 (8-6) win at No. 3 doubles. Vlassov followed that up with a 2-6, 7-5, 10-8 comeback win at No. 6 singles against junior Tayyab Sheikh (Longmeadow, Massachusetts/Longmeadow). Senior captain Gerard Tierney (Marshfield, Massachusetts/Marshfield) chipped in with a back and forth 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles.

Stonehill (7-5, 4-1 NE-10) is back in action on Saturday when it visits Bentley University for an NE-10 matchup at 1 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Tuesday, April 12, to host Southern New Hampshire University for its Purple & White Game at 3:30 p.m. Merrimack (4-7, 3-0 NE-10) hosts Adelphi University for an NE-10 clash at noon.

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