Men's Tennis Falls to Western New England

BOSTON, Mass. – The Western New England men's tennis team won two of three doubles matches and took five of six singles matches as the Golden Bears defeated Wentworth Institute of Technology, 7-2, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action at Harvard University.

Western New England won number three doubles as sophomore John Mindek (Willington, Conn.) teamed with sophomore PJ Nassar (Longmeadow, Mass.) for an 8-5 win over Wentworth junior Andy Chen (New Taipei City, Taiwan) and sophomore Dylan Melnik (Wake Forest, N.C.). The Leopards evened the match when seniors Juan Rodriguez (Quito, Ecuador) and Dave Filar (Wolcott, Conn.) defeated Golden Bear senior Chris Holzinger (Foster, R.I.) and sophomore Marlborough, Mass.), 8-2. Western New England took a 2-1 lead out of doubles when freshman Anders Otero (Caracas, Venezuela) and freshman Alex Sause (Cusago, Italy) edged Leopard freshmen James Drum (Madison, Conn.) and Sean Murray (North Brookfield, Mass.), 9-8 (7-3).

Sause defeated Drum, 6-2, 6-2, at number two and freshman Ethan Belisle (Chicopee, Mass.) defeated Murray, 6-1, 6-0, at number five to put the visitors ahead, 4-1, before Otero's 6-3, 6-2 win over Filar at number three clinched the match for the visitors.

Junior Tyler Unwin (Pittsfield, Vt.) defeated Melnik at number six (6-4, 6-0) and Shawn Fitzpatrick defeated Chen at number four (6-3, 6-3) before Rodriguez downed Holzinger, 6-2, 6-2, in the day's final match.

Winners of three straight, the Golden Bears improve to 4-7 overall and 2-2 in CCC play. Western New England hosts Mass. College on Tuesday. Wentworth falls to 3-3 (2-2) and hosts Emerson on Monday.

Singles competition
1. Juan Rodriguez (WIT) def. Chris Holzinger (WNE-M) 6-2, 6-2
2. Alexander Sause (WNE-M) def. James Drum (WIT) 6-2, 6-2
3. Andres Otero (WNE-M) def. Dave Filar (WIT) 6-3, 6-2
4. Shawn Fitpatrick (WNE-M) def. Andy Chen (WIT) 6-3, 6-3
5. Ethan Belisle (WNE-M) def. Sean Murray (WIT) 6-1, 6-0
6. Tyler Unwin (WNE-M) def. Dylan Melnik (WIT) 6-4, 6-0

 Doubles competition
1. Juan Rodriguez/Dave Filar (WIT) def. Chris Holzinger/Peter Lefrancois (WNE-M) 8-2
2. Andres Otero/Alexander Sause (WNE-M) def. James Drum/Sean Murray (WIT) 9-8 (7-3)
3. John Mindek/Peter Nassar (WNE-M) def. Andy Chen/Dylan Melnik (WIT) 8-5

Match Notes:
Western New England 4-7, 2-2 CCC
Wentworth 3-3, 2-2 CCC
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (12,5,3,4)
Official: Ray Viti  T-2:35  A-40