DANBURY, Conn. -- The Western Connecticut State University men's tennis team captured its first victory of the season as the Colonials edged visiting Bridgewater State University, 5-4, in a Little East Conference (LEC) match on Saturday afternoon at Westside Courts.
The Colonials improve to 1-5 on the season and 1-2 in the Little East, while the Bears fall to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
WestConn captured two of the three doubles matches while the teams split the six singles flights.
Sophomore Will Hogan (Ridgefield, Conn.) and freshman Jay Kilcourse (New Fairfield, Conn.) teamed up for an 8-3 win at number one doubles, while the pairing of senior Chauncey Allers (Wilton, Conn.) and sophomore Matthew Carino (Sandy Hook, Conn.) earned an 8-5 decision at the second flight.
Freshman Kendan DeBlois (Hadley, N.Y.) and junior Joshua Bean (Kingston, Mass.) teamed up for an 8-5 victory at the third flight for the Bears' lone doubles point.
DeBlois and Bean recorded straight set wins in singles play at the fifth (6-1, 6-2) and fourth (6-1, 6-2) flights, respectively. Senior Alexander Belinsky (Norton, Mass.) also won in straight sets for the Bears ay number six, 6-3, 6-3. DeBlois remains unbeaten in singles competition on the season as he improves to 6-0.
Carino and Allers registered straight set victories for the Colonials. Carino at the second flight, 6-1, 6-2, and Allers at number three, 6-3, 6-3.
The match would ultimately come down to the battle of top flight singles players. Hogan won the first set in a close tie-breaker, 7-6 (17-15), and then secured the decisive fifth point for the Colonials with a 6-0 victory in the second set.
In upcoming action, the Colonials entertain John Jay College on Sunday afternoon at two, while the Bears travel to Holy Cross on Tuesday afternoon for a 3:30 match with the Division I Crusaders.