Men’s tennis loses close match to Stonehill
Rebecca Black, Sports Editor
April 12, 2012
Filed under Sports
This past Saturday, the men’s tennis team had its winning streak stopped, losing to Stonehill by one point, 4-5. The team began the weekend with success, facing American International on Wednesday, April 4, coming away with the win 9-0. The team completed the match without giving up a single point, cleaning up in doubles and singles play.
At first doubles, seniors Dan Sullivan and Ken Schiefer won with a score of 8-2, followed by wins at second and third doubles as well. Senior Joe Persia and sophomore Yaro Nieves won 8-3, with senior Jim Shelp and sophomore Daryl Johnson closing out a win at third doubles 8-0.
In singles play, Sullivan scored another point for the ‘Phins at first singles, winning with a match score of 6-3, 6-4. Shelp and Persia won again as well, at second and third singles. Senior Andrew Gleason won at the fourth singles spot 6-2, 6-0. Johnson won at fifth singles, his second point for the team, with freshman Shane Evans rounding out the solid win for the ‘Phins at sixth singles, 6-0, 6-0.
On Saturday morning the team lost their first match this spring to Stonehill 4-5. The men won two out of the three doubles points, with Sullivan and Schiefer winning at first doubles 8-1, and Shelp and Johnson winning at third doubles 8-2.
At first singles, Sullivan lost a devastatingly close match, losing the first set in a tiebreaker 5-7, and then losing the second set 3-6. At third singles, Persia scored a win for the ‘Phins, winning his match 6-2, 6-3. Shelp, Gleason and Johnson each lost at second, fourth and fifth singles.
The final point for the men’s team came from a sixth single win by Evans, who played a tough three set match. He won the first set 6-1, lost the second 3-6, then won the third 6-4.
The men’s team will play their final match of the season this Saturday, April 14, against St. Michael’s at Nottingham High School at 11 a.m.
This match will also be the team’s senior day, where they will recognize their five seniors, Dan Sullivan, Jim Shelp, Ken Schiefer, Andrew Gleason and Joe Persia.
If the men’s team wins this match, they will undoubtedly be in the NE-10 Conference Championships as well.