SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--The 2012-13 edition of the Western New England University men's tennis team had its fall debut on Monday, when the Golden Bears lost 8-1 at Springfield College. The host Pride improve to 1-1.
Junior
Tyler Unwin picked up the Golden Bears' lone point with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Cody Rodrigues, coming back from a 3-2 deficit in the second set by winning four of the last five games to seal the win.
At No. 1 singles, senior captain Christopher Holzinger gave Kyle Mersereau all he could handle but fell just shy, 6-4, 7-6 (1).
Western New England also had competitive showings in losses at Nos. 4 and 5 singles. After dropping the first set 6-1 to Alex Orban,
Ethan Belisle fought to an 8-6 second-set tiebreaker, 7-6, but couldn't extend the match to a third set.
Andrew Schnier fell short 7-5, 7-5 to Zac Goldstein.
Team Score -- Springfield 8, Western New England 1
Doubles
1) Kyle Mersereau/Ben Burnap (SC) def.
Chris Holzinger/
Peter LeFrancois (WNE), 8-3
2) Joe Giannelli/Alex Orban (SC) def. Gregory Tischofer/
Ethan Belisle (WNE), 8-2
3) Zac Goldstein/Cody Rodrigues (SC) def.
John Mindek/
Andres Otero (WNE), 8-6
Singles
1) Mersereau (SC) def. Holzinger (WNE), 6-4, 7-6 (7-1)
2) Burnap (SC) def.
Alexander Sause (WNE), 6-1, 6-3
3) Giannelli (SC) def. LeFrancois (WNE), 6-2, 6-2
4) Orban (SC) def. Belisle (WNE), 6-1, 7-6 (8-6)
5) Goldstein (SC) def.
Andrew Schnier (WNE), 7-5, 7-5
6)
Tyler Unwin (WNE) def. Rodrigues (SC), 6-4, 6-4