Sophomore Brett Armstrong clinched the comeback win for Stonehill with his three-set win at No. 6 after also combining to post a win at No. 3 doubles. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

Alaimo and Armstrong double-winners to lead Skyhawks to semifinal date at top-seeded Merrimack on Thursday

EASTON, Mass. (April 17, 2012) – Fourth-seeded Stonehill College, ranked eighth in the most recent NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, rallied three different times to edge fifth-seeded Adelphi University 5-4 in first round action of the 2012 Northeast-10 Conference men's tennis tournament at Charles Watt Tennis Courts this afternoon.

Stonehill (15-4, 8-3 NE-10) advances to Thursday's semifinal round and will visit top-seeded Merrimack College (15-7, 11-0 NE-10) at Bellevue Country Club in Melrose, Mass., at 2 p.m. The Warriors received one of two first round byes in the NE-10 Tournament, while third-seeded Southern New Hampshire University topped sixth-seeded Le Moyne College 5-0 in today's other first round matchup. The NE-10 Championship will be contested on Saturday at the home of the highest remaining seed at 1 p.m. Adelphi sees its season come to a close with a 9-11 record overall, including a 7-4 clip in NE-10 play.

Sophomore Brett Armstrong (Manville, R.I./Mount Saint Charles Academy) and freshman Thomas Alaimo (North Andover, Mass./Central Catholic) led Stonehill to the win as double-winners. The duo combined for an 8-5 victory at No. 3 doubles to claim the Skyhawks lone point in doubles play as they trailed 2-1 heading into the singles matches. Alaimo keyed the Stonehill rally with a 7-5, 6-3 triumph over Adelphi junior Bryan Kallenberg (Port Washington, N.Y./Schreiber) at No. 4 singles. Armstrong clinched the win with a back and forth 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over freshman Ryan White (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) at No. 6.

Senior Aaron Bergeron (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) notched Stonehill's first singles win to knot the score at 2-2 with a quick 6-1, 6-1 win over sophomore Richard Fergeson (Franklin Square, N.Y./Holy Trinity) at No. 5. Junior Chris Martin (Darien, Conn./Darien) set up Armstrong's clinching win with his dramatic 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) comeback decision over freshman Ryan Villarruel (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's Boys) at No. 3.

Junior Andreas Hammar (Norrtajle, Sweden) was a double-winner to lead Adelphi. Hammer combined with Fergeson for an 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles before posting a 6-3, 6-3 decision over Stonehill freshman Eric Ringstad (Fairbanks, Alaska/Monroe Catholic) at No. 1 singles. Freshman Chiwete Njokanma (Lagos, Nigeria) grinded out a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) victory over sophomore Nick Hyzak (Guilford, Conn./Guilford) that put the Panthers a win away from advancing (5-3) with No. 3 and No. 6 singles still on the court in tight matches.

Villarruel and Kallenberg teamed up for an 8-6 decision over Ringstad and Hyzak at No. 2 doubles to help give Adelphi the early advantage following doubles play.

Stonehill 5, Adelphi 4

Singles

1. Andreas Hammar (ADE) def. Eric Ringstad (STO) 6-3, 6-3

2. Chiwete Njokanma (ADE) def. Nick Hyzak (STO) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)

3. Chris Martin (STO) def. Ryan Villarruel (ADE) 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)

4. Thomas Alaimo (STO) def. Bryan Kallenberg (ADE) 7-5, 6-3

5. Aaron Bergeron (STO) def. Richard Fergeson (ADE) 6-1, 6-1

6. Brett Armstrong (STO) def. Ryan White (ADE) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

Doubles

1. Hammar/Fergeson (ADE) def. Martin/Bergeron (STO) 8-2

2. Villarruel/Kallenberg (ADE) def. Ringstad/Hyzak (STO) 8-5

3. Alaimo/Armstrong (STO) def. Njokanma/White (ADE) 8-5

* - doubles matches played first