Stonehill Claims Big Regional Win Over Philadelphia, 5-3


Junior Chris Martin picked up wins at No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles in the key Skyhawks win.

Martin and Bergeron lead Skyhawks to victory over region's 6th-ranked team

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (March 13, 2012) – Stonehill College, ranked tenth in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) East Regional rankings, scrapped its way to a key 5-3 victory over Philadelphia University, ranked sixth in the region, in non-conference men's tennis action at Liberty High School this morning.

Senior Aaron Bergeron (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) and junior Chris Martin (Darien, Conn./Darien) were double-winners to lead Stonehill to the victory and improve to 4-0 against regional opponents. The duo combined for a 9-7 victory at No. 1 doubles before Martin grinded out a 7-6 (7-4), 0-6, 10-4 triumph over Philadelphia senior Manoli Sgouros (Forest Hills, N.Y./Holy Cross) at No. 2 singles. Bergeron registered a 6-3, 4-6, 10-5 win at No. 5 singles over Rams senior Eric Guerrero (Lawrence, Mass./Central Catholic). Four of the five completed singles matches were decided by a third set super tiebreaker, with a fifth at No. 6 singles halted tied at two sets with the match already decided and time constraints.

Freshman Eric Ringstad (Fairbanks, Alaska/Monroe Catholic) rallied from a set down to pick up a point at No. 1 singles for Stonehill over senior Adrian Torroella-Cruz (Gainesville, Fla./Gainesville). Sophomore Brett Armstrong (Manville, R.I./Mount Saint Charles Academy) and freshman Thomas Alaimo (North Andover, Mass./Central Catholic) gave the Skyhawks a 2-1 edge after doubles play with an 8-4 decision at No. 3 over Guerrero and freshman Taylor Dedeke (Aledo, Texas/Aledo).

Junior Kyle Burke (Wakefield, R.I./South Kingstown), younger brother of former Stonehill captain Jonathan Burke, '11, posted a 6-2, 6-0 win for Philadelphia at No. 3 singles over sophomore Nick Hyzak (Guilford, Conn./Guilford). Senior Ryan Christopher (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) was a double-winner for the Rams, rallying for an 0-6, 6-3, 10-6 victory over Alaimo at No. 4 singles after combining with Torroella-Cruz for a 9-7 decision over Ringstad and Hyzak at No. 2 doubles.

Stonehill (6-1, 3-0 NE-10) has Wednesday off before returning to action on Thursday to face Monmouth (Ill.) College at Liberty High School at 11 a.m. Philadelphia (2-7, 0-0 CACC) faces McKendree College on Wednesday.

 

Stonehill 5, Philadelphia 3

Singles

1. Eric Ringstad (STO) def. Adrian Torroella-Cruz (PHI) 3-6, 6-4, 10-7

2. Chris Martin (STO) def. Manoli Sgouros (PHI) 7-6 (7-4), 0-6, 10-4

3. Kyle Burke (PHI) def. Nick Hyzak (STO) 6-2, 6-0

4. Ryan Christopher (PHI) def. Thomas Alaimo (STO) 0-6, 6-3, 10-6

5. Aaron Bergeron (STO) def. Eric Guerrero (PHI) 6-3, 4-6, 10-5

6. Brett Armstrong (STO) vs. Nail Rachidi (PHI) 6-7 (1-7), 6-3, unfinished

Doubles

1. Martin/Bergeron (STO) def. Sgouros/Burke (PHI) 9-7

2. Torroella-Cruz /Christopher (PHI) def. Ringstad/Hyzak (STO) 9-7

3. Alaimo/Armstrong (STO) def. Guerrero /Dedeke (PHI) 8-4

 

* - doubles matches played first