FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Courtesy of Nichols Athletics Communications
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The Nichols College men's tennis team defeated Ramapo 5-3 in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament Friday afternoon at the Proctor Tennis Courts in Middlebury, Vt.
The Bison have now won their first round match in three of the last four seasons, having defeated Marywood (5-0) in 2012 and Colby-Sawyer (5-0) in 2013 before falling to MIT (5-0) last May.
The Bison (18-5) got off to a quick 2-0 lead through the first couple doubles matches. At No. 2 doubles, sophomore Joan Castillo (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) and senior Cam Lewis (Bolton, Conn.) wasted no time in taking care of business against freshmen Mike Abelev (Fair Lawn, N.J.) and Willen Feygin (Fair Lawn, N.J.), winning 8-4.
The Roadrunners were ready to take No. 3 doubles to tie things at a match apiece before the Bison took the last two games for the win. Freshmen Gage Fox (Brandon, Fla.) andAustin DuBois (Simsbury, Conn.) defeated sophomore Mike Friedman (Wyckoff, N.J.) and freshman Adam Petrovics (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.), 9-8 (7-5).
Ramapo (15-3) cut the deficit in half with a win at No. 1 doubles. Senior Jacob Khodakov (Old Bridge, N.J.) and sophomore Justin Bevilacqua (Bergenfield, N.J.) upset sophomoreJames Smith (Monte Sereno, Calif.) and junior Josh Halpern (Secaucus, N.J.), 8-6.
The Roadrunners – who were playing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history – took the momentum from No. 1 doubles into their singles-play as Feygin had no trouble at No. 2 singles against Castillo, winning 6-0, 6-1, to tie the match at two.
Petrovics earned a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles over Fox to give Ramapo its first lead on the afternoon 3-2. The Bison quickly tied things up again as sophomore Jake Zapatka(Wethersfield, Conn.) breezed to a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 4 singles over Bevilacqua.
The Bison regained the lead 4-3 after a 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 win by Smith over Khodakov. DuBois secured the win – and moves to 18-0 on the year – after winning in the third set over Friedman at No. 5 singles 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
The Bison play host-school Middlebury Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.
| Singles competition |
| 1. James Smith (NC) def. Jacob Khodakov (RC) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 |
| 2. Willen Feygin (RC) def. Joan Castillo (NC) 6-0, 6-1 |
| 3. Mike Abelev (RC) vs. Josh Halpern (NC) 6-4, 5-2, unfinished |
| 4. Jake Zapatka (NC) def. Justin Bevilacqua (RC) 6-0, 6-1 |
| 5. Austin DuBois (NC) def. Mike Friedman (RC) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 |
| 6. Adam Petrovics (RC) def. Gage Fox (NC) 6-2, 6-2 |
| Doubles competition |
| 1. Jacob Khodakov/Justin Bevilacqua (RC) def. James Smith/Josh Halpern (NC) 8-6 |
| 2. Joan Castillo/Cam Lewis (NC) def. Willen Feygin/Mike Abelev (RC) 8-4 |
| 3. Gage Fox/Austin DuBois (NC) def. Mike Friedman/Adam Petrovics (RC) 9-8 (7-5) |
| Match Notes |
| Nichols 18-5 |
| Ramapo 15-3 |
| Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,6,4,1,5) |
| 2015 NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Regional First Round |
| Nichols advances to play Middlebury on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. |
| T-3:15 A-192 |