Freshman Nikolay Lisichenok collected wins at No. 1 doubles and No. 4 singles, the latter clinching the Skyhawks first round win. |
Alaimo and Lisichenok lead Skyhawks into semifinal at Adelphi with singles and doubles wins
EASTON, Mass. (April 21, 2015) – Third-seeded Stonehill College, ranked ninth in the most recent NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, opened postseason play with a comfortable 5-1 triumph over sixth-seeded Le Moyne College in first round action of the 2015 Northeast-10 Conference Men's Tennis Tournament at Charles Watt Tennis Courts this afternoon.
Stonehill (15-5, 8-2 NE-10) advances to the NE-10 semifinal round where it will visit second-seeded Adelphi University (9-3, 9-1 NE-10), which earned one of two first round byes, on Thursday at 2 p.m. Le Moyne, which was making its ninth NE-10 Tournament appearance and first since 2012, sees its season come to a close at 7-11 overall, including a 5-5 mark in the NE-10.
Senior Tom Alaimo (North Andover, Massachusetts/Central Catholic) and freshman Nikolay Lisichenok (Danvers, Massachusetts/Danvers) led Stonehill into its first NE-10 semifinal appearance since 2012 by earning singles and doubles wins this afternoon. Lisichenok teamed up with freshman Thomas Bellio (Saint Joseph, Michigan/Saint Joseph) for an 8-1 victory at No. 1 doubles against Le Moyne sophomores James Gayvert (Fairport, New York/Fairport) and Benjamin Spoor (Ballston Spa, New York/Ballston Spa). Lisichenok then wrapped up the Skyhawks first round win with his 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Spoor at No. 4 singles.
Alaimo and senior Jonathan Sanders (Holbrook, New York/Saint Anthony's) gave Stonehill a 2-1 edge following doubles play by easing past sophomore Steve Procopio (Jamesville, New York/Jamesville-DeWitt) and freshman Hallam Doney (Andover, Hampshire) at No. 2 doubles. Alaimo earned the Skyhawks first singles point with his 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 2 against freshman Jason Barton (Lima, Ohio/Shawnee). Junior Philip Klados (Lake Forest, California/Santa Margarita Catholic) pulled the Skyhawks within a point of victory just moments before Lisichenok wrapped it up with his 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles against Procopio.
Barton and junior Stephane Legris (Queensbury, New York/Queensbury) collected Le Moyne's lone point with their 8-6 decision at No. 3 doubles against Stonehill senior Jared Drzal (West Sayville, New York/Sayville) and freshman Tom Buckley (Hebron, Connecticut/RHAM) by reeling off the final three games of the match to overcome a 6-5 deficit.
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