NEWPORT, R.I. - In their first New England Women's and Men's Athletics Conference (NEWMAC) contest of the season yesterday, Coast Guard tennis took down hosts Salve Regina in a 6-1 decision. The victory snapped a six-game losing streak as the Bears earned their first win of the season.
Coast Guard improves to 1-6 (1-0 NEWMAC), while Salve moves to 0-6 (0-1 NEWMAC). The Seahawks will look to put an end to their search for their first win on March 29th at no. 18 Babson College (11-2, 2-0 NEWMAC).
The day got off to a good start as the Bears swept Salve in the doubles play. No. 1 pair
Ben Bonetto (So. - Bend, Oreg.) and team captain
Brendan Love (Jr. - Winchester, Va.) took care of business with a 6-0 win on the top court, while no. 2 freshman duo
Konnor Eslinger (St. Charles, Mo.) and
Anthony Gregoire (Hagatna, Guam) and the no. 3 junior team of
Benjamin Carlander (Monument, Colo.) and
Logan Kwon (University Place, Wash.) both picked up 6-1 decisions in their matches.
The Bears went 5-1 at singles to claim the day.
Darsha Irugalbandara (Sr. - Kurunegala, Sri Lanka) earned his first win of the year with a 2-0 (6-0, 6-2) victory on the no. 6 court, giving the Bears a clinching 4-0 lead in the process. Love also earned his first win of the season with 2-0 victory after battling through a 7-6 first set win to take set two by a 6-2 score. Bonetto improved to 6-1 on the season with is 6-3, 6-0 won at the top court, while Carlander and Eslinger also picked up 2-0 decisions. Gregoire suffered Coast Guard's the only loss of the day, falling in three sets at no. 3 by scores 6-3, 6-7, 8-10.
Bears tennis will be back in action on March 29th, hosting Emerson College (5-8, 0-2 NEWMAC) in further conference action. Coast Guard will be looking to continue their winning ways against the Lions, whom they swept in a 9-0 victory last season, while Emerson looks to warm up a hot streak following their 7-0 win against crosstown rivals Suffolk University this past Friday.
