Men's Tennis Edges Regionally-Ranked Bentley, 5-4


Bellio improved to 3-0 in NE10 play this season with a two-set win over the region's 20th-ranked player.

Bellio and Ravichandrakumar power Skyhawks to key NE10 win

EASTON, Mass. (April 1, 2017) – Stonehill College picked off its first regionally-ranked opponent in two seasons with a 5-4 triumph over rival Bentley University, ranked No. 7 in the most recent Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II East Regional rankings, in Northeast-10 Conference men's tennis action inside the Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex this afternoon.

Junior Thomas Bellio (Saint Joseph, Michigan/Saint Joseph) and freshman Manu Ravichandrakumar (Chennai, India/Saddlebrook Prep (Fla.)) led Stonehill to its first win over a regionally ranked opponent since a 7-2 home triumph over tenth-ranked Bentley on March 31, 2015. Bellio teamed up with classmate Nikolay Lisichenok (Danvers, Massachusetts/Danvers) for an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles, leading the Skyhawks to a 2-1 edge after doubles play. Bellio followed that up by improving to 3-0 in NE10 play at No. 1 singles with a convincing 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Bentley junior Brendan McCarthy (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth), the 20th-ranked singles player in the East Region by the ITA.

Ravichandrakumar combined with junior Tom Buckley (Hebron, Connecticut/RHAM) for an 8-6 win at No. 2 doubles. Ravichandrakumar clinched the win for the Skyhawks by taking a three-set thriller against Bentley sophomore Dylan Granat (Woodbury, New York/Syosset) 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4 at No. 3 singles. Buckley added a key 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 triumph at No. 4 singles against senior Chase Rosa (Hampton, New Hampshire/Berwick Academy).

Sophomores Michael Fuca (Manchester, Massachusetts/Manchester-Essex) and Brett Gilman (Mahwah, New Jersey/Mahwah) combined to earn three of Bentley's four points in the match. The duo posted the Falcons lone doubles victory with their 8-3 decision at No. 3. Fuca followed with a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles against Stonehill junior Jeffrey Gagnon (Providence, Rhode Island/The Wheeler School), while Gilman defeated freshman Aaron Diamond (Moultonborough, New Hampshire/Moultonborough Academy) 6-2, 6-2 at No. 6 singles.

Stonehill (4-5, 2-1 NE10) is back in action on Tuesday, when it visits East Region No. 4 Southern New Hampshire University for an NE10 match at 3 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Thursday to host Franklin Pierce University at 3:30 p.m. Bentley (8-6, 3-2 NE10) visits East Region #5 Adelphi University on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

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