BRISTOL, R.I. – The Endicott men's tennis team traveled to Roger Williams on Sunday afternoon for their Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opener. The Gulls battled in doubles play but fell short as they dropped a 5-1 decision to the CCC foe. Endicott sits at 4-4 (0-1 CCC) while the Hawks improve to 5-3 (2-0 CCC).
The Gulls will take the court next on Saturday, April 4th as they host CCC opponent Wentworth for a 2:30 p.m. start. Roger Williams battles with cross-town opponent Salve Regina on Tuesday, March 31st for a 3:30 p.m. start time.
In doubles play the Hawks took a 3-0 shutout despite the tight play in the #1 and #3 slots. Competing in the #2 slot senior Michael Lauretano (Winchester, Mass.) and sophomore Sean McAndrews (Vineyard Haven, Mass.) fell to junior Jonah Schwartz (Orange, Conn.) and freshman Grant Rosenberg (Melville, N.Y.) 8-2. Fighting in the #1 slot, freshman Christopher Kirkpatrick (Newburyport, Mass.) and junior Michael Dolph (Stratford, Conn.) just fell to their counterparts, senior Ryan Swanson (West Newbury, Mass.) and junior Eric Laboissonniere (Cumberland, R.I.) 8-5. Wrapping up doubles play in the #3 slot, junior Eric Pierce (Barrington, R.I.) and senior Justin Warshavsky also dropped a tough 8-5 game.
Heading into singles play Roger Williams needed just two victories to take the match. In the #3 slot, Dolph kept the Gulls in the match as he took a 6-1 score in the first game before his counterpart Swanson retired in the second after 1-0 score.
However the Hawks answered back as Lauretano fell to Schwartz in the #4 slot (6-1, 6-1) before Kirkpatrick dropped his first match of the spring in a tough 6-2, 7-5 battle in the #1 spot.
