COLCHESTER, Vt. - Seniors Sam Cieplicki (South Burlington, Vt./New Hampton School) and Brian Healey (Ware, Mass./Belchertown) combined to play a role in three victories on Thursday, helping the Saint Michael's College men's tennis team earn a 7-2 Senior Day triumph against American International College (AIC) on the SMC Tennis Courts.
At 6-5 overall and 5-5 in the Northeast-10 Conference, the Purple Knights need to defeat Le Moyne College in each team's finale on Saturday to earn a bid into the NE-10 Tournament. Match time in Syracuse, N.Y., is set for 11 a.m. AIC is 0-13 and 0-10.
The Yellow Jackets had only four players at their disposal, as they defaulted at No. 3 doubles and No. 5 and 6 singles. Healey combined with junior Kenny Vassallo (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) for an 8-0 win in the second doubles slot to produce the hosts' fourth point of the match. Junior Jakub Simicek (Treneianska Turna, Slovakia/Business College) and freshman James Worrall (Epsom, England) combined for an 8-2 win in the No. 1 position for AIC.
During singles play, Cieplicki earned the fifth and clinching point with a 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 3 before Healey wrapped up his match in the fourth slot a couple minutes later by an identical score. Junior Eric Parziale (Pinehurst, N.C./Pinecrest) earned a 6-1, 6-2 triumph at No. 2. Worrall also played a hand in his team's second point, grabbing a 6-2, 6-2 win in the first position.
