MIDDLEBURY, Conn. – The Western Connecticut State University men's tennis team swept the doubles and singles points in a 5-0 victory over the University of Southern Maine Huskies on Wednesday, May 5 in Middlebury, Conn., to advance to the Little East Conference Championship match. With the victory, WestConn picks up its fifth win of the season, while the Huskies end the season at 2-5.

In the most competitive match of the day, junior Jonathan Bartuccio-Pereira (St. Bruno, Quebec/Antoine-Girourard) and sophomore Gabriel Couture (Boucherville, Quebec/Fadette) put up a strong challenge against WestConn's Jay Kilcourse and Myckland Cothias, but ultimately fell 8-5. Seniors Adam Papayoanou (Valencia, Calif./Hart) and Shawn Gagnier (Lewiston, Maine/Lewiston) teamed up at first doubles for the Huskies, dropping their match 8-3 to Aaron Campos and Matt Carino. Freshmen Antoine Gignac (Quebec City, Quebec/St.Lawrence) and Ethan Rudnicki (Levant, Maine/Hermon) were shutout 8-0 at third doubles by Will Hogan and Kevin Tenesaca. 

At fifth singles, Gignac managed two points off of Tenesaca in a match that was left unfinished 6-1, 4-1, as the overall match had reached a decision. Papayoanou and Gagnier both lost 6-0, 6-0 at first and second singles, with Hogan's victory over Gagnier securing the win for WestConn.

This match concludes the 2021 season for the Huskies. WestConn will face the winner of No. 1 Rhode Island College vs No. 4 Castleton in the LEC championship match on May 8. 

Box Score: 

Singles Competition: 
1. Aaron Campos (WCSUM) def. Adam Papayoanou (SMMTE21) 6-0, 6-0
2. Will Hogan (WCSUM) def. Shawn Gagnier (SMMTE21) 6-0, 6-0
3. Matthew Carino (WCSUM) vs. J. Bartuccio-Pereira (SMMTE21) unfinished
4. Sebastian Frisch (WCSUM) vs. Ethan Rudnicki (SMMTE21) unfinished
5. Kevin Tenesaca (WCSUM) vs. Antoine Gignac (SMMTE21) unfinished
6. Mitchell Kindred (WCSUM) vs. Gabriel Couture (SMMTE21) unfinished

Doubles Competition:
1. Aaron Campos/Matthew Carino (WCSUM) def. Adam Papayoanou/Shawn Gagnier (SMMTE21) 8-3
2. Jay Kilcourse/Myckland Cothias (WCSUM) def. J. Bartuccio-Pereira/Gabriel Couture (SMMTE21) 8-5
3. Kevin Tenesaca/Will Hogan (WCSUM) def. Ethan Rudnicki/Antoine Gignac (SMMTE21) 8-0

Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,2)