GORHAM, Maine – Seniors Scott Gagne (Lewiston, Maine) and Thaddeus St. John (Weld, Maine/Mt. Blue) have been named co-captains of the 2015 University of Southern Maine Huskies' men's tennis team. First year head coach Timothy Lacombe made the announcement as the Huskies' prepared for their season-opening match against Norwich University on Friday, March 6 (5:00 p.m.).
Gagne and St. John are two of four returning All-Little East Conference players for the defending Little East Conference champions. Last season, the Huskies finished their 2014 conference schedule with an unblemished 6-0 record to earn the regular season title and top seed in the conference tournament. As the top seed, Southern Maine rolled through the semifinals and championship matches posting consecutive 5-1 wins over UMass Dartmouth and UMass Boston.
For their outstanding play in 2014, Gagne and St. John earned first team all-conference honors at fourth and fifth singles respectively, while Gagne was also a second-team selection at first singles along with junior Tyler Adams (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle).
Gagne posted a perfect 6-0 mark against Little East Conference opponents during the 2014 season and was a solid 10-4 overall. In doubles action, Gagne and Adams teams for a combined record of 11-4 and 5-1 in the LEC. During the 2014 Little East Conference championship match against UMass Boston, Gagne earned a convincing 6-1, 6-0 win over the Beacons' Mark Grinhaus to secure one of the Huskies' five points in a 5-1 win.
Gagne heads into his final season with the Huskies with a 29-12 overall record in singles action, including a 14-3 mark against his conference opponents. In doubles action, Gagne has a 28-17 record.
St. John finished a strong junior campaign with an overall 11-2 record and a perfect 6-0 mark against LEC opponents. St. John won a string of 10 consecutive matches during the season, including a thrilling 6-7 (0-3), 6-4, 10-8 come-from-behind win over Endicott's Sean McAndrews to initiate the streak. St. John begins his senior year with a 30-13 mark in singles action, including a 15-3 record against LEC opponents. In doubles action, St. John is 16-7 overall.
Along with Gagne and St. John, Southern Maine returns all-conference performers Adams and sophomore Kyle Curley (Gorham, Maine). Curley earned first team all-conference as a rookie in the Huskies' third singles slot. Curley finished his rookie campaign with an 8-5 overall record in singles action, including a 7-3 mark at third singles. Against LEC opponents, Curley was 4-1. In doubles action, Curley earned an 11-1 record at second doubles including a 5-0 mark against the LEC.
Adams, the 2014 Player of the Year, also earned first team honors manning the top of the lineup in singles and doubles action for the Huskies. Adams became Southern Maine's first Little East Conference men's tennis Player of the Year after posting an outstanding 15-2 overall mark at first singles, including a perfect 6-0 record against LEC opponents. In doubles action, Adams and Gagne combined for an 11-7 record and a 5-1 mark against conference foes.
–cac–
