GORHAM, Maine – After sweeping all three doubles points, the fourth-seeded University of Southern Maine Huskies picked up victories at second and third singles to secure a 5-0 win over the fifth-seeded Bridgewater State University Bears in the quarterfinals of the 2011 Little East Conference men's tennis championship.
With the win, Southern Maine improves to 9-5 overall and advances to play top-seeded UMass Dartmouth Corsairs on Thursday (3:00 p.m.). The Bears conclude their season with a 7-9 record. UMass Dartmouth, the top seed in the tournament, earned a first round bye and are undefeated at 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the LEC. In their previous meeting, Southern Maine succumbed to the Corsairs 6-3.
Senior captain Mike Sarrazin (Lewiston, Maine) and junior Matt Larson (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) led the Huskies from the top of the doubles order defeating the Bridgewater State tandem of senior David Campbell (Vineyard Haven, Mass./Martha's Vineyard) and junior Mike Zagame (Uxbridge, Mass.) 8-2. Southern Maine went on to earn wins at second and third doubles by the scores of 8-2 and 8-3 respectively.
Leading 3-0, Larson earned a 6-0, 6-1 win over Zagame at second singles, while sophomore Jon Sproul (Bristol, Maine/Lincoln Academy) secured the victory with a 6-4, 6-4 win at third singles. Sproul defeated Bears' senior Nicholas Amrose (Arlington, Mass.).
The Huskies have won three straight matches and four out of their last five. Their last loss came at UMass Dartmouth.
At Gorham, Maine
Little East Conference Tournament Quarterfinal: Southern Maine 5, Bridgewater State 0
Singles
1. Zach Caron (SM) vs. David Campbell (B) DNF
2. Matt Larson (SM) def. Mike Zagame (B) 6-0, 6-1
3. Jon Sproul (SM) def. Nicholas Ambrose (B) 6-34, 6-4
4. Mike Sarrazin (SM) vs. Nicholas Desisto (B) DNF
DoDoubles
1. Larson/Sarrazin (SM) def. Campbell/Zagame (B) 8-2
2. Caron/Sproul (SM) def. Amrose/Cody Farrell (B) 8-2
3. Christopher G. Ross/Corey Dyke (SM) def. Jesse Gotlib/Joao Machado (B) 8-3
Records: SM 9-5 BSU 7-9
–cac–
