BOSTON, Mass.—The top four players in UMass Boston men's tennis' (5-10, 4-2 Little East) lineup all went 2-0, to help the Beacons down Rhode Island College (3-9, 2-4 Little East) 7-2 on Senior Day at the B.C High Tennis Courts.
UMass Boston gave Charles Lai (Boston, Mass.) a fitting send-off in his final match at the B.C. High Tennis Courts with their second-straight victory. Lai, who attended B.C. High for high school, picked up his program-record 92nd and 93rd career victories, in his final regular season match with the Beacons.
Austin DeLasse (Shrewsbury, Mass.), Jack Wang (Suzhou, China) and Greg Fleming (Harwich Port, Mass.) all joined Lai with 2-0 days, as the Beacons wrapped up the third seed in the upcoming Little East Conference Tournament.
With the win, UMass Boston will host sixth-seeded Western Connecticut State on Tuesday afternoon in the Little East Conference Quarterfinals at a time and location to be announced.
The Beacons rolled out to a 2-1 lead after doubles play, as they switched up their doubles lineup to take wins at number one and two doubles.
Fleming and DeLasse rolled to an 8-3 win at second doubles, while Lai and Wang got out to a hot start and held on for an 8-6 victory at number one doubles. Rhode Island College took third-flight doubles by an 8-2 score, as Brian Gil and Chris Klawitter defeated Wyatt Towle (Woburn, Mass.) and Vlad Leopard (Carnikava, Latvia) by an 8-2 score.
The Beacons clinched the match by winning each of the first five singles matches to earn their second-straight 7-2 win.
Lai made it 3-1, as the senior cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Tim Holzinger at number one singles.
UMass Boston added on a fourth victory at fourth singles, with Fleming breezing past Josh Pimentel 6-3, 6-0.
DeLasse clinched the victory at second-flight singles, as the freshman tacked on a 6-4, 6-4 win over Brett Taggart.
Moments later, Wang made it 6-1 in favor of the hosts, with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Lee Tiberi.
Towle tacked on the final point of the day for the Beacons, as the sophomore earned his second collegiate win, with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Gil.
Klawitter broke up the Beacons' streak of seven-straight points, as the sophomore downed Leopard 6-4, 6-2 at sixth-flight singles.
