MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Endicott men's tennis team opened up its 2018-19 season on Wednesday evening with a 4-3 victory over Saint Anselm College.
In doubles action, Daniel Rinkert (Ben Lamond, Calif.) and Charles Book (Devon, Pa.) earned a 6-1 win at the No. 2 position for Endicott, but the Hawks claimed victories at No. 1 (7-5) and No. 3 (6-2) to go up by a 1-0 score headed into singles.
Today's match was played in conjunction with NCAA Division I and II rules which only awards one point for winning the doubles portion of the match (best of 3, one point). This is in contrast to NCAA Division III rules which awards one point for each doubles flight won by a team.
Meanwhile, in singles, Endicott bounced back with three straight victories at the No. 3 (6-2, 6-1), No. 6 (6-3, 6-1), and No. 5 (6-2, 6-3) positions to take a 3-1 lead in the match. Book, Christos Papadopoulos (Weymouth, Mass.), and Cooper Walters (Madeira Beach, Fla.) were responsible for the wins.
After the Hawks rallied to take the next two points at No. 4 and No. 2, Sam Pham (Boston, Mass.) clinched the victory for Endicott via a 7-5, 7-5 triumph at No. 1.
TOP QUOTE
"That was a terrific way to start the season for the men's squad," said Endicott men's tennis head coach Jeremy Howard. "I'm really impressed with how we fought after losing the doubles point. Special kudos go out to freshman Sam Pham for clinching it with the match tied at 3-3. Sam had to claw all the way back from a 5-2 deficit in the second set to help give us the win."
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Pham and Walters picked up their first career collegiate singles victories today.
- This is the second straight year that Endicott has opened up its season against Saint Anselm (9/12/17, Win, 8-1).
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (1-0) will host Salem State University on Friday, September 28 at 3:30 PM. Saint Anselm (0-2) welcomes Merrimack College to its campus on Thursday, September 27 at 3 PM.
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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)