Men’s Tennis eliminated from CCC contention with semifinal loss at Roger Williams

BRISTOL, R.I. – The Endicott men's tennis team made their sixth appearance in seven years in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Semifinals, but the Gulls were tripped up tournament's top seed in Roger Williams 5-1 on the road.  The Blue and Green saw their quest for a conference championship match appearance come up short as they end their 2012-13 season with an 11-8 overall record.

Endicott came into the playoffs as the bracket's #4 seed after amassing a 5-3 record against league opponents.  The Gulls bounced #5 Western New England in the CCC Quarterfinals in impressive fashion by winning 5-0 on their home court last Saturday. 

In Wednesday's semifinal showdown with #1 Roger Williams, the Endicott #2 doubles duo consisting of senior Benjamin Randlett (Middlebury, Vt.) and sophomore Eric Gandrup (Sudbury, Mass.) edged out Hawks opponents sophomore Ryan Swanson (West Newbury, Mass.) and freshman Jonah Schwartz (Orange, Conn.) 9-7 as the two teams went into singles play with Roger Williams leading 2-1.

Swanson took #5 singles over Michael Lauretano (Winchester, Mass.) 6-3, 6-1 and Hawks junior Taylor Webster (Bristol, Conn.) won #3 singles 6-3, 6-0 over Timothy Forance (Natick, Mass.) to put the top-ranked Hawks ahead 4-0.

Roger Williams finished the match to advance into the CCC Championship behind a #6 singles victory for freshman Eric Bott (Bethel, Conn.) who handed Randlett a 6-3, 6-2 loss.  The remaining singles matches were all being played in favor of Roger Williams as the Hawks had taken the first set in the #1, #2, and #4 singles matches. 

Endicott wraps up their third straight season with double digit victories and their fifth in the past six years.  First-year head coach Jeremy Howard will lose three seniors from his roster but return All-CCC players Forance and Evan Ross (Worcester, Mass.).