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MTEN 3.14.26
3
Hartford HART (3-13, 2-8 CNE)
4
Winner Western New England University WNEMT (8-10,5-5 CNE)
Hartford HART
(3-13, 2-8 CNE)
3
Final
4
Western New England University WNEMT
(8-10,5-5 CNE)
Winner

Match Recap: Men's Tennis |

Lord’s Match-Deciding Point Gives Men’s Tennis A Massive CNE Victory Over Hartford To Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 14, 2026) – The Western New England men's tennis team was triumphant in a Conference of New England match on Tuesday afternoon from Forest Park Tennis Courts, using Connor Lord's singles match as the deciding win in a 4-3 victory over the University of Hartford Hawks. 

Records:
  • Western New England: 8-10, 5-5 CNE
  • University of Hartford: 3-13, 2-8 CNE
How it Happened:

The Golden Bears saw different combinations of players in doubles action on Tuesday, as Colby Esposito teamed with Nolan Jermain in the top spot, Kyle Poccia and Eston Fowler battled in the second doubles position, and Henry Runyan and Connor Lord worked together in the third spot, but the University of Hartford started all six of its regulars to come away with wins in all three matches to steal the doubles point to begin the match. 

Needing a similar comeback as they had against the University of New England this past weekend, Western New England got on the board first in singles when Kyle Poccia defeated Jared DeGruttola by a final score of 6-1, 6-2 in the fifth spot. Quinn Northrop handled Hartford's Yande Simunyola by a final score of 6-2, 6-2, putting the Golden Bears ahead in the match, 2-1. Hartford tied the match with a victory in the third singles spot as the match played out to a 2-2 score. Colby Esposito took down Max Poss on a 7-5, 6-1 score to put WNE ahead in the match, 3-2. Hartford stormed back with a win in the fourth singles match as Nolan Jermain fell in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, leaving the match in the hands of the sixth singles position to decide a winner. The match featured Connor Lord from WNE and Thomas Andersen from the University of Hartford, with Andersen taking the opening set on a tiebreak, 7-6 (4). Lord fought back in the second set for a 7-5 win to force a match-deciding third set to decide a winner. In the set, which went back and forth for both players, Lord pulled out a 6-4 victory for Western New England, giving the Blue and Gold a 4-3 win over the Hawks, an important CNE victory to stay alive in the playoff picture. 

Up Next on the Schedule:
  • In what is expected to be one of the biggest matches of the season, Western New England heads to Wentworth Institute of Technology on Saturday, April 18 at 4:00 PM with playoff implications on the line. 
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