Story courtesy of David Longolucco, Mitchell College Sports Information Director

WATERFORD, Conn. – The Mitchell College men’s tennis team defeated Lesley University by a 7-2 final on Saturday afternoon in an NECC showdown at Leary Park.

Mitchell improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Lesley dropped to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the NECC.

Mitchell took two of three doubles matches to hold a 2-1 edge heading into singles play. The duo of Kyle Carmona (Norwich, Conn.) and Rocco Devona (Waterford, Conn.) cruised to an 8-1 victory at the No. 1 spot over Lesley’s David Newton (Hamden, Conn.) and Alex Zhitnik (West Hartford, Conn.). Tyler Engleberg (Niantic, Conn.) and Alex Fusco (Saugus, Mass.) also came through for the Mariners at No. 3 with an 8-1 victory. Nick Mattox (Pasadena, Md.) and Christian Domingo (Los Angeles, Calif.) earned a point for the Lynx at No. 2, holding on for a closely contested 9-7 win.

Mitchell won five of the six singles matches to secure the victory. The only match that went to a third set was between Adam Samuels (New Rochelle, N.Y.) and Domingo at No. 5. Samuels captured the first set 6-4 but saw Domingo rally back for a 6-3 win in the second set. The deciding set was equally as close, with Domingo pulling out the victory in a 7-5 final.

Devona and Chris White (Marshfield, Mass.) each won their singles matches by 6-0, 6-0 finals. Carmona took down Newton at the top spot by scores of 6-2, 6-4, and Engleberg defeated Zhitnik 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3. Andrew Small (Westerly, R.I.) rounded out singles play with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Alejandro Lazo (Boston, Mass.) at No. 6.

Lesley will next play at Becker College on Tuesday, April 6 at 3:30 p.m. Mitchell will next play at Johnson & Wales University on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.