Dudley, Mass. – The top-seeded Nichols College men’s tennis team held onto a 2-1 lead after doubles play to defeat fourth-seeded Endicott, 5-2, in the The Commonwealth Coast Conference semifinals at the Francis W. Robinson Courts Wednesday afternoon. The Bison, who improve to 16-4 overall, return to the TCCC finals for the first time since 2002. Endicott sees its season come to an end at 11-8.

The Bison will host the winner of third-seeded Western New England and second-seeded Roger Williams on Saturday, April 30, at 1 p.m. Nichols defeated both opponents during the regular season, winning both matches by 5-4 scores.

The Gulls got the first point with an 8-6 doubles win at the top flight from TCCC Rookie of the Year Zach Arpey (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) and Devon Locke (St. Croix, Virgin Islands). Nichols’ David Drucker (Bellmore, N.Y.) and Eliot Wuhrmann (Fontainebleau, France) evened the score with an 8-6 third doubles win before Daniel Young (Washington Depot, Conn.) and Isiah Prosper (Manchester, Conn.) finished off their 8-6 second doubles victory on the seventh match point.

Steve Carella (Rocky Hill, Conn.) avenged a regular-season loss to Locke at the second singles flight and put the Bison up by two with a quick 6-1, 6-1 victory. Oliver Joggi (Stoneham, Mass) followed with the Gulls’ final point of the day at the third singles flight, defeating Tyler McLaughlin (Hollis, N.H.), 6-3, 6-0.

Drucker gave the Bison back their two-point cushion with a 6-2, 6-2 win at the top spot, defeating Porter Williams (Raleigh, N.C.), 6-2, 6-2, before Wuhrmann clinched the match at the sixth flight, defeating Jake Cohen (Barrington, R.I.), 6-1, 6-4.

Nichols’ most recent TCCC title came in 2001, a 5-4 victory at Salve Regina. The Bison were crowned conference champions in 2000 and 1996 during tournament-style play, prior to the move to dual-match format.

Tennis Match Results
Endicott College vs Nichols
04/27/11 at Dudley, Mass.
(Francis W. Robinson Courts)

Nichols 5, Endicott College 2

Singles competition
1. David Drucker (NC) def. Porter Williams (EC) 6-2, 6-2
2. Steve Carella (NC) def. Devon Locke (EC) 6-1, 6-1
3. Olivier Joggi (EC) def. Tyler McLaughlin (NC) 6-3, 6-0
4. Daniel Young (NC) vs. Zach Arpey (EC) 7-6, 1-2 (7-5), unfinished
5. Isiah Prosper (NC) vs. Evan Ross (EC) 6-4, 4-3, unfinished
6. Eliot Wuhrmann (NC) def. Jake Cohen (EC) 6-1, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Devon Locke/Zach Arpey (EC) def. Steve Carella/Tyler McLaughlin (NC) 8-6
2. Isiah Prosper/Daniel Young (NC) def. Olivier Joggi/Evan Ross (EC) 8-6
3. Eliot Wuhrmann/David Drucker (NC) def. Porter Williams/Jake Cohen (EC) 8-6

Match Notes:
Endicott College 11-8, 8-3
Nichols 16-4, 11-0
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,3,1,6)
TCCC Semifinal
\#1 Nichols will host \#3 WNEC/\#2 Roger Williams winner in TCCC Championship
Official: Tom Fayed T-2:45 A-30

Courtesy of Nichols Sports Information