HOOKSETT, N.H. - Sophomore Connor Scott (Bellevue, Wash./Newport) nabbed a victory at No. 3 singles as the Saint Michael's College men's tennis team lost to regionally-ranked Southern New Hampshire University, 6-1, on Tuesday during Northeast-10 Conference play at the Penmen Stadium Tennis Courts. The Penmen were second in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) East Region poll and won the past four NE10 Championships.
RECORDS
- Saint Michael's (0-3, 0-3 NE10), Southern New Hampshire (2-1, 2-1 NE10)
SAINT MICHAEL'S LEADERS
MATCH FACTS
- Each of the Purple Knights' 10 matches this spring are slated to be against regionally-ranked squads.
- Southern New Hampshire was ranked second in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) East Region poll, won the last four NE10 Championships and qualified for eight NCAA Tournaments since 2011, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2019.
THE ACTION
- Scott and sophomore Tyler Whitney (Bedford, N.H./Bedford) paired to win one game at No. 2 doubles as the Penmen took a 1-0 lead thanks to claiming the first two doubles matches.
- At No. 1, sophomores Jason Boucher (Bedford, N.H./Bedford) and Josh Weiss (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon) nearly sprung an upset on Southern New Hampshire graduate students Bas van Biezen and Willem van Biezen, who entered with a 29-6 career record, having last lost to an unranked foe in 2018-19. Boucher and Weiss had four match points against the brothers, who were sixth in the ITA's latest regional rankings last April and also held down the top two spots in the most recent East Region singles poll. The van Biezens rallied for a 7-5 win to finish the doubles sweep.
- The hosts lost one game between No. 4 and 6 singles to clinch the victory.
- In the No. 3 spot, Scott earned a 6-3, 6-3 triumph to make it 4-1, collecting his first win of the year.
- Boucher and Weiss put together competitive matches against the van Biezens despite both ultimately losing. Weiss took on Willem van Biezen, who was an ITA All-American and the ITA East Region Senior Player of the Year in 2019-20, and fell by a 6-3, 6-3 count in the first position. Boucher nearly forced his third set tie-breaker of the season during a 7-5, 6-0 loss at No. 2 to Bas van Biezen, the 2019-20 ITA Division II Most Improved Senior, a national honor.
NEXT SAINT MICHAEL'S MATCH
- Thursday against Bentley University at Brandeis University, 3 p.m.
- The Falcons were eighth in the latest ITA East Region rankings.
