BEVERLY, Mass.- Behind a strong doubles performance that gave the Gulls a 2-1 lead heading into singles play, the Endicott men's tennis team was able to hold off their cross-town rival Gordon and edge out a 5-4 win to finish regular season play. Endicott is now 10-6 on the season and 6-2 in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play while Gordon falls to 14-4 and 5-3 in CCC action. The conference office will be releasing the CCC Tournament seeding and schedule this evening at the conclusion of conference play.
The Gulls were able to claim a 2-1 lead following doubles after senior Eric Gandrup (Sudbury, Mass.) teamed with junior Eric Pierce (Barrington, R.I.) to take #2 doubles 8-3 before seniors Michael Lauretano (Winchester, Mass.) and Justin Warshavsky (East Hartford, Conn.) claimed an 8-4 win at #3 doubles. Endicott's Michael Dolph (Stratford, Conn.) and Christopher Kirkpatrick (Newburyport, Mass.) fell to Gordon's potent #1 doubles team of Zach Hall (Sugar Land, Texas) and Mason Casady (Santa Barbara, Calif.) by an 8-5 final.
With the slight edge heading into singles play, the Gulls and Fighting Scots would split the six matches 3-3 to give Endicott the 5-4 win. Nick Eherts (New Milford, Conn.) would earn the first singles victory, defeating Dan Christensen (Attleboro, Mass.) 6-0, 6-1 at #6 singles to put Endicott up 3-1.
Gordon would earn the next singles win as Hall would take a 6-4, 2-0 victory at #1 singles over Kirkpatrick as Endicott's freshman withdrew due to retirement.
Endicott responded quickly to grow the lead back to two as Dolph took down D'Antuono 6-3, 6-2 at #3 singles before sophomore Sean McAndrews (Vineyard Haven, Mass.) took momentum from a hard fought first set 7-5 to claim a 6-0 second set at #5 singles and give Endicott the advantage for good with a 5-2 lead.
Gordon would go on to claim wins at #4 singles and #2 singles as both were extended to three sets with Endicott coming up just short. At #4, Lauretano fell to Godwin 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 while Pierce fell to Casady 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 at #2.
With the win, Endicott is now 10-6 on the season and 6-2 in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play while Gordon falls to 14-4 and 5-3 in CCC action. The conference office will be releasing the CCC Tournament seeding and schedule this evening at the conclusion of conference play.