KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Saint Michael's College men's tennis team's Spring Break trip came to an end on Thursday with an 8-1 loss to regionally-ranked Hamilton (N.Y.) College at the Oak Street Community Park. The Purple Knights remain winless through 11 matches, while the Continentals, who are 19th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division III Northeast Region poll, improved to 6-3.

Sophomore Sam Laves (Bedford, N.H./Bishop Brady) and first-year Ben Lambert (Milford, N.H./Milford) came closest to claiming a doubles point for the Purple and Gold, falling by an 8-6 count in the No. 3 position. Hamilton carried a 3-0 lead into singles, where sophomore Charlie Merry (Kennebunkport, Maine/Kennebunk) picked up a hard-earned 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 triumph at No. 4 over a foe who had been a perfect 4-0 during dual matches this season. Senior Nick Bosco (Glastonbury, Conn./East Catholic) dropped a narrow 6-4 decision in the opening set of a straight-set loss at No. 1.

The Purple Knights return north for their final four regular-season matches, beginning with a contest at Saint Anselm College next Friday, March 28, at 3:30 p.m.