HOOKSETT, N.H. - The Saint Michael's College men's tennis team lost to Southern New Hampshire University, 5-2, on Tuesday afternoon during Northeast-10 Conference play at the Ouellette Stadium Tennis Courts. The Purple Knights were 10th in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) East Region Poll, while the Penmen were second after advancing to the 2022 NCAA Tournament national quarterfinals.

RECORDS

• Saint Michael's (4-10, 1-2 NE10), Southern New Hampshire (6-5, 1-1 NE10)

LEADERS

• Senior Jason Boucher (Bedford, N.H./Bedford), 1 win
• Senior Josh Weiss (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon), 1 win
• Sophomore Sergio Barroso (Madrid, Spain/Colegio Montpellier), 1 win
• First-year Mathis Billman (Brandon, Miss./South Carolina Connections Academy), 1 win

MATCH FACTS

• Barroso improved to 11-1 in singles, tying for fourth in program history in season singles victories. He is two shy of Boucher's year-old school record.
• Boucher's 31st career doubles win tied him for third in program annals, while Weiss is now tied for 12th in doubles triumphs (23).
• In addition to facing regionally-ranked Southern New Hampshire, Adelphi University and Franklin Pierce University, the Purple Knights' slate has featured a pair of matches with Division I Merrimack College and meetings with five nationally-ranked Division II and III foes.

THE ACTION

• The Purple Knights nearly took the doubles point but faced a 1-0 deficit heading into singles.
• First-years Simon Lundholm (Le Luc, France/CNED) and Julius van den Broek (Bergschenhoek, The Netherlands/Wolfert Lyceum) lost a 6-3 decision at No. 3 during their first match together before Boucher and Weiss countered with a 6-3 victory in the second spot, moving to 4-2 this season. At No. 1, Billman and junior Tristian Du Plessis (Rustenburg, South Africa/Hoërskool Waterkloof/Wallace State CC) faced a 6-5 deficit, but Billman served out the final game to force a tiebreaker. The Purple Knight duo trailed 6-4 at match point while serving but were broken to lose the match 7-6 (7-4).
• The Penmen won the first four singles matches to clinch the victory. Junior Jackson Moser (Missouri City, Texas/Ridge Point) lost to the East Region's top-ranked player, who was ranked eighth nationally in November and still stood 58th as recently as earlier this month, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 2. His foe advanced as far as the ITA Cup national quarterfinals in October.
• Boucher followed with a 6-2, 6-4 setback in the third spot against the 17th-ranked player in the region, and Du Plessis lost a 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 decision at No. 4. Weiss was downed 6-4, 6-3 in the top position.
• Billman won his third consecutive outing, playing to a 6-4, 6-3 count in the sixth spot. Barroso completed the match with a 6-4, 3-6, 10-8 triumph at No. 5.

NEXT SAINT MICHAEL'S MATCH

• The Purple Knights play twice in the Boston area on Saturday, visiting former NE10 foe and new Division I member Stonehill College at 11 a.m. before heading to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which is ranked 36th nationally in Division III by the ITA, at 4:30 p.m.