Merrimack Defeats Men's Tennis on Senior Day, 7-2


White notched a three-set win at No. 3 singles for the Skyhawks.

Belov and Davydov lead Warriors to fourth straight win

EASTON, Mass. (April 8, 2018) – Merrimack College, ranked No. 4 in this week's NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, posted a 7-2 victory over Stonehill College in Northeast-10 Conference men's tennis action at Charles Watt Tennis Courts this afternoon.

Senior Mikhail Belov (Krasnoarmeyskoy, Russia) and sophomore Denis Davydov (Ulyanovsk, Russia) led Merrimack to its fourth-straight win to remain unbeaten in NE10 play as double-winners for the afternoon. Belov teamed up with classmate Frank Vega (Lima, Peru) to clinch a 2-1 edge for the Warriors after doubles play with an 8-5 win at the top flight. Belov followed that up with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Stonehill senior Thomas Bellio (Saint Joseph, Michigan/Saint Joseph) at No. 1 singles.

Davydov and junior Alex Federov (Guilderland, New York/Guilderland) combined to earn Merrimack's first point with their 8-3 decision at No. 2 doubles. Davydov then provided the Warriors clinching point with his 6-3, 6-3 victory at No. 2 singles against freshman Trent Newman (Old Greenwich, Connecticut/South Burlington). Federov rounded up Merrimack's double-winners with his 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 4 singles against sophomore Manu Ravichandrakumar (Chennai, India/Saddlebrook Prep (Fla.)).

Seniors Nikolay Lisichenok (Danvers, Massachusetts/Danvers) and Tom Buckley (Hebron, Connecticut/RHAM) captured Stonehill's doubles point on Senior Day with their 8-3 victory at No. 3 that knotted the match at a point apiece. Freshman Russell White (Toronto, Ontario/Saddlebrook Prep (Fla.)) earned a point for the Skyhawks with his back and forth 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 triumph at No. 3 singles against Vega. Lisichenok also battled junior Tyler Clontz (Naples, Florida/IMG Academy) to a third set tiebreaker after dropping the opening set, 7-5, by winning the second 6-3, and then being defeated in the tiebreak, 10-6.

Stonehill (9-7, 3-4 NE10) returns to action on Wednesday, when it visits Le Moyne College, ranked eighth in both regional rankings, for an NE10 match at 11 a.m. Merrimack (12-7, 7-0 NE10) hosts Adelphi University on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.

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