Men's Tennis Falls to Salem State in Little East Opener, 5-4

SALEM, Mass. -- The Salem State University men's tennis team opened Little East Conference (LEC) play with a 5-4 victory over visiting Bridgewater State University on Saturday afternoon at Rockett Arena.

The host Vikings break a two-game skid and improve to 1-2 on the season and 1-0 in conference play. The Bears slide to 2-3 and 0-1 in the Little East.

Salem State's sweep of all three doubles matches proved to be the difference in the match. John Didonato (Newbury, Mass.) and Conner Erickson (Hubbardston, Mass.) earned an 8-5 win at first doubles. The Vikings picked up a key point at second doubles, where David Dluznieski (Auburn, Mass.) and Chen Chen (Lawrence, Mass.) edged BSU's tandem of Chris Jastrab (Chicago, Ill.) and Justin Haley (South Yarmouth, Mass.), 9-8 with a 7-5 tie-breaker. Luke Hodgkins (Winthrop, Mass.) and Kevin Lam (Salem, Mass.) secured the third point with an 8-6 win.

The Beard dominated singles play winning four of six matches. Chen posted a 6-1, 6-1 decision at third singles to give the Vikings a 4-0 lead. The Bears, however, would rally to win the next four flights to even the score. Matt McGee (Warren, R.I.) posted a 6-3, 6-2 straight set triumph at the top spot, while Jastrab (6-1, 6-4) and Haley (6-4, 6-1) also won in straight sets at the second and fourth flights, respectively. Harrison Ryan (Halifax, Mass.) rallied from a set down at number six singles to post a 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 decision.

Hodgkins would earn the decisive fifth point for the Vikings in straight sets at fifth singles, 6-4, 6-4, to secure the win.

The Bears return to the court on Thursday afternoon when they host Suffolk University at 3:30.