BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The visiting Johnson & Wales University men's tennis team posted a 6-3 victory over Bridgewater State University in non-conference action on Senior Day at the Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts.
The Wildcats improve to 4-6 on the season, while the host Bears fall to 1-7.
Johnson & Wales captured two of the three doubles matches and four of the six singles flights to earn the win.
Freshman Gianni Rodrigues (Milton, Mass.) posted a 6-1, 6-3 straight set decision at second singles, and teamed with senior Ryan Schiele (Lusby, Md.) for an 8-4 triumph at the top doubles flight to lead the way for the Wildcats.
JWU senior Jack Hopkins (Wenham, Mass.) notched a 6-0, 6-2 straight set win at number four singles, and paired with junior Robert Kliskey (Manchester, N.H.) for an 8-4 victory at second doubles.
Johnson & Wales also received singles victories from sophomore Alexander Rohana (Providence, R.I.) at number three (6-0, 6-0) and freshman Robert Michalofsky (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) at the sixth flight (6-2, 6-0).
The senior tandem of Dan O'Malley (Duxbury, Mass.) and Ross Bloomfield (Lexington, Mass.) recorded the Bears' lone doubles point with a 9-8 (7-5) decision at number three.
BSU senior Justin Haley (South Yarmouth, Mass.) bounced back from a set down to win in a tie-breaker at the top singles flight, 5-7, 6-4, 10-5. Sophomore Joshua Bean (Kingston, Mass.) picked up a tie-breaker win after splitting the first two sets at fifth singles, 6-3, 5-7, 10-6.
Following the match, the Bears honored O'Malley, Bloomfield, Haley and Zachary Mutti (Peabody, Mass.). The four BSU seniors were competing in their final home match.
The Bears wrap up regular season play on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Eastern Nazarene College for a one o'clock non-conference match with the Lions. The Wildcats take on Regis College in the semifinal round of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament on Saturday afternoon at two.