RUTLAND, Vt. – The University of Southern Maine men's tennis team defeated the Vermont State University Castleton Spartans 6-3 on Saturday afternoon in a Little East Conference match. The Huskies move to 2-2 in conference play on the season while the Spartans fall to 0-5. The Huskies have clinched a spot in the upcoming LEC Tournament with the win, although their place in the final regular standings will not be determined until all conference matches have been played.
 
The Huskies swept the doubles portion of the match. Senior Jaden Parker (Portland, Maine) and Zac Howe (Arundel, Maine/Thornton Academy) defeated the Castleton top pairing of Miki Almirall and Valero Echegoyen 8-3 at No. 1 doubles. Senior Zach Desmarais (St. Cyrille, Quebec) and junior Landon Weaver (Bowdoinham, Maine/Mt. Ararat) played together for the first time this season and defeated Tanner Ciufo and Remy Maynard in the No. 2 slot. The Huskies won at No. 3 doubles by default.
 
Parker and Desmarais each won their singles match as well. Parker defeated Almirall 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 in three sets. Desmarais' match also went three sets as he defeated Ciufo 3-6, 7-6 (7-0), 6-3. Sophomore Kayde Kinaschuk (Calgary, Alberta) earned a win by default at No. 6 singles as well.
 
The Records:
Southern Maine: 3-5 (2-2 LEC)
VTSU Castleton: 2-6 (0-5 LEC)
 
Doubles Results:
1. Jaden Parker / Zac Howe (USM) def. Miki Almirall / Valero Echegoyen (VTSU), 8-3
2. Zach Desmarais / Landon Weaver (USM) def. Tanner Ciufo / Remy Maynard, 8-4
3. Charlie Bitar / Kayde Kinaschuk (USM) def. Ben Chilkott / Dylan Shiland, WD
 
Singles Results:
1. Jaden Parker (USM) def. Miki Almirall, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5
2. Zach Desmarais (USM) def. Tanner Ciufo (VTSU), 3-6, 7-6 (7-0), 6-3
3. Remy Maynard (VTSU) def. Zac Howe (USM), 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (11-9)
4. Valero Echegoyen (VTSU) def. Landon Weaver (USM), 10-8
5. Trevor Castino (VTSU) def. Charlie Bitar (USM), 6-3, 6-2
6. Kayde Kinaschuk (USM) by default
 
Up Next:
The Huskies will host UMass Boston on Wednesday at 4:00 pm at the Waynflete Athletic Complex in Portland. The team will be honoring their seniors prior to the match.