Simmons earned a point with his three set win at No. 5 singles. (PHOTO BY Saylor Murphy)

Regionally-ranked Jovanovic leads three double-winners for Panthers

EASTON, Mass. (March 22, 2022) – Adelphi University, ranked No. 8 in the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II East Regional rankings, handed Stonehill College a 6-1 setback in its Northeast-10 Conference and spring home opener at Charles Watt Tennis Courts this afternoon. 

Highlights

• Postgrad Gabriel Balestero, senior Pietro Sole and freshman Marko Jovanovic were all double winners to lead Adelphi.
• Sophomore Thiago Negrao also earned a point for the Panthers with his win at No. 4 singles.
• Junior Andrew Ray combined with postgrad Luke Attride-Sterling for a win at No. 3 doubles, while also walking over for a point at No. 6 singles.
• Junior Ben Simmons earned Stonehill's point with a third-set tiebreaker victory at No. 6 singles.

How it Happened

• Jovanovic and Balestero, along with Sole and freshman Reece Farrow, clinched the doubles point for Adelphi by sweeping their way to identical 6-0 wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, respectively.
• Ray and Attride-Sterling rallied from 0-3 down to take their match at No. 3 doubles against Stonehill's team of sophomore Liam Bevens and freshman Guillaume Duhil de Bénazé.
• Negrao and Sole combined to provide the match-clinching points for Adelphi in singles play, dropping just a game apiece in their wins at No. 4 singles over Stonehill senior Juan Camilo Riano Rojas and No. 3 against freshman Louis Coppi, respectively.
• Jovanovic, ranked No. 13 in the most recent ITA East Region singles rankings, and Balestero followed with straight sets wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles for the Panthers.
• Simmons fought his way to a win at No. 5 singles for Stonehill, fending off Adelphi junior Henrique Souza for a 6-2, 3-6, 10-4 decision.

Up Next

Stonehill (6-3, 0-1 NE10) is off until next Wednesday, March 30, when it visits rival Bentley University, ranked No. 9 in the East Region, for an NE10 match at 3 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Saturday, April 2, to host Saint Michael's College at noon. Adelphi (4-5, 2-0 NE10) visits Southern New Hampshire University on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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