Bridgewater, Mass. – The visiting Salem State University men's tennis team posted a 7-2 Little East Conference (LEC) victory over Bridgewater State University on Saturday afternoon at the Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts.
The defending Little East champion Vikings improve to 1-2 (1-0 LEC) on the season, while the host Bears fall to 1-3 (1-1 LEC).
Salem captured two of the three doubles matches and five of the seven singles flights to secure the win.
Sophomore Andrew Muttiah (Colombo, Sri Lanka) earned a 6-2, 6-1 straight set triumph in the battle of the top flight singles players. Muttiah also teamed with freshman Moses Ba (Lynn, Mass.) for an 8-4 win at second doubles. Ba added a tough 6-4,7-5 straight set victory at number six singles.
Juniors Mitchell Dyer (North Attleboro, Mass.) and Noah Hodgkins (Winthrop, Mass.) pair up for an 8-4 decision at number three doubles for the Vikings. Dyer also cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 straight set victory at fourth singles. Sophomore Roni Bazile (Brockton, Mass.) and senior Chen Chen (Lawrence, Mass.) rounded out Salem's singles winners at the second and third flights, respectively. Bazile won 6-0, 6-3, while Chen recorded a 6-0, 6-1 triumph.
Freshman Kendan DeBlois (Hadley, N.Y.) recorded the Bears' lone singles point as he won a tough three-set match, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5. DeBlois is a perfect 4-0 in singles play on the young season.
BSU senior Alexander Belinsky (Norton, Mass.) and sophomore William Jones (Wrexham, U.K.) pair up for a 9-8 decision at first doubles. The top doubles match was decided with a 7-4 tie-breaker.
In upcoming action, the Bears host Suffolk University on Thursday afternoon at 3:30, while the Vikings entertain Little East foe UMass Boston on Tuesday afternoon also at 3:30.