Colby-Sawyer Edges Men’s Tennis, 5-4, In 2015 Season Opener

NEW LONDON, N.H. – The Endicott men's tennis team dropped a 5-4 decision to Colby-Sawyer College on Monday evening in the season opener for both squads at the Kelsey Tennis Courts.

Colby-Sawyer came out of doubles with a 2-1 lead as the Chargers earned a pair of 8-6 victories at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions, respectively. Endicott sophomore Christopher Kirkpatrick (Newburyport, Mass.) and senior Michael Dolph (Stratford, Conn.) picked up the lone win for the Gulls in doubles as the duo defeated Cass McCann (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) and Alex Wright (St. Austell, Cornwall, England) by an 8-6 score.

In singles play, Colby-Sawyer junior Dean Boodakian (Burlington, Mass.) gave the hosts a 3-1 advantage with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph at the No. 4 slot, while Wright turned in a 6-0, 6-4 victory at the No. 2 position to lock up the win for the Chargers.

The Gulls saw Kirkpatrick defeat McCann at No. 1 by a 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 decision and Dolph claim a hard-fought 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 10-3 win at No. 3 to highlight the rest of their play on the evening.

TOP QUOTE

"This was a solid start to our season," said Endicott men's tennis head coach Jeremy Howard. "We obviously would have preferred to come away with a win, but I'm excited to see where this team goes come spring."

NOTES

• Dolph and Kirkpatrick were both double-winners on the evening.
• Kirkpatrick has never lost a season opening singles match for the Gulls (2-0 at No. 1).
• Colby-Sawyer holds a 3-2 edge in the last five meetings with the Blue and Green.
• Endicott is 1-4 in its last five season openers.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (0-1) and Colby-Sawyer (1-0) will both play in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Regional Championships from Friday, September 25-27. 

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