Sophomore Nikolay Lisichenok posted wins at No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles today.

Lisichenok leads four double-winners for Skyhawks 

RINDGE, N.H. (September 24, 2015) – Stonehill College, ranked ninth in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II East Regional rankings, opened its Conference schedule with a 7-2 victory over Franklin Pierce University in Northeast-10 Conference men's tennis action today.

Sophomore Nikolay Lisichenok (Danvers, Massachusetts/Danvers) led the double-winners for Stonehill with wins at No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles. He and junior Joan Castillo (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) combined for an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles as the Skyhawks swept the three doubles matches. Lisichenok followed that up with a 6-2, 6-4 win over freshman Andrew Schadt (Tolland, Connecticut/Tolland) in singles play. Castillo was also a double-winner in his Stonehill debut with his 6-0, 6-3 victory at No. 4 singles against sophomore Olivier Viel (Quebec City, Quebec).

Sophomores Tom Buckley (Hebron, Connecticut/RHAM) and Jeffrey Gagnon (Providence, Rhode Island/The Wheeler School) rounded out the double-winners for Stonehill this afternoon. Buckley and classmate Tom Bellio (Saint Joseph, Michigan/Saint Joseph) notched an 8-6 win at No. 1 doubles, while Gagnon and senior Gerard Tierney (Marshfield, Massachusetts/Marshfield) rolled to an 8-1 win at No. 3. Buckley and Gagnon both swept their way to wins at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively, without dropping a single game along the way.

Freshmen James Bisazza (West Barnstable, Massachusetts/Barnstable) and Marcus Lawrence (Acton, Massachusetts/Acton-Boxborough) each notched singles wins for Franklin Pierce. Bisazza rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 10-5 win at No. 1 singles against Bellio, while Lawrence defeated Stonehill senior Philip Klados (Lake Forest, California/Santa Margarita Catholic) 7-5, 6-4 at No. 2.

Stonehill (2-0, 1-0 NE-10) closes out its fall schedule next Thursday, October 1, when it visits Endicott College at 3:30 p.m. Franklin Pierce (0-2, 0-1 NE-10) hosts Bentley University on Wednesday, September 30, at 2 p.m.

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