Middlebury, VT:  The Ramapo College men's tennis team was eliminated from the NCAA Championship Tournament today as they dropped a tough 5-3 decision to Nichols College.  Nichols advances to the second round of the NCAA Men's Tennis Tournament. The Bison (18-5) will take on the host Panthers tomorrow morning in a 10:00am match, while the Roadrunners finish their season with a 15-3 mark.
 
Nichols took a 1-0 lead in doubles play when Joan Castillo and Cam Lewis defeated Willen Feygin and Mike Abelev by an 8-4 score at second doubles. The lead doubled after Gage Fox and Austin DuBois downed Mike Friedman and Adam Petrovics in the third slot, 9-8 (7-5). The Roadrunners got on the board at first doubles after Jacob Khodakov and Justin Bevilacqua teamed up to defeat James Smith and Josh Halpern, 8-6.
 
Ramapo tied the match at 2-2 when Feygin defeated Castillo 6-0, 6-1 in singles play in the second slot. The Roadrunners took their first lead of the match after Petrovics downed Fox, 6-2, 6-2 at sixth singles. The Bisons evened the contest at 3-3 in the fourth singles spot after Jake Zapatka was a 6-0, 6-1 winner over Bevilacqua.
 
The next two Nichols victories came back-to-back as Smith was first off with his 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 victory over Khodakov. Dubois sealed the win at fifth singles with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 win over Friedman. Abelev led Halpern 6-4, 5-2 at third singles before the match was halted.

Congratulations to the Roadrunners on a job well done this season!

Singles competition

1. James Smith (NC) def. Jacob Khodakov (RCNJMT) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2

2. Willen Feygin (RCNJMT) def. Joan Castillo (NC) 6-0, 6-1

3. Mike Abelev (RCNJMT) vs. Josh Halpern (NC) 6-4, 5-2, unfinished

4. Jake Zapatka (NC) def. Justin Bevilacqua (RCNJMT) 6-0, 6-1

5. Austin DuBois (NC) def. Mike Friedman (RCNJMT) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2

6. Adam Petrovics (RCNJMT) def. Gage Fox (NC) 6-2, 6-2

 

Doubles competition

1. Jacob Khodakov/Justin Bevilacqua (RCNJMT) def. James Smith/Josh Halpern (NC) 8-6

2. Joan Castillo/Cam Lewis (NC) def. Willen Feygin/Mike Abelev (RCNJMT) 8-4

3. Gage Fox/Austin DuBois (NC) def. Mike Friedman/Adam Petrovics (RCNJMT) 9-8 (7-5)

 

Match Notes

Nichols 18-5

Ramapo 15-3

Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,6,4,1,5)

2015 NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Regional First Round

Nichols advances to play Middlebury on Saturday at 10:00 a.m.