BRISTOL, R.I. - April 28, 2010 - The Colby-Sawyer men's tennis team was eliminated from the 2010 playoffs by the Hawks of Roger Williams, 5-4 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference semifinal action. The Hawks extend their win streak to 14 and are 16-6 overall, while Colby-Sawyer finishes their season at 10-11.

The Hawks and Chargers have squared off in semifinal action for the past three seasons. The Hawks have come away with a victory each time to advance to the title game three consecutive years.

On a cold and windy day, the Hawks opened up the match with an 8-2 win by Jeff DeNunzio and Kyle Baker over Jamie Thormann and Chris Lavoie at third doubles. Yet the Chargers came back to take the lead, as Gustav Norberg and Adam Whitman defeated David Lange and Dan Kleitz 8-5 at #1, followed by another 8-5 victory at #2, this time by Ben Dabush and #Rob Barnes over Kevin Erikson and Nicholas Hawvermale.

Trailing 2-1, Baker evened the match at two apiece with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Barnes at #6 singles. Jason Pacino would regain the lead for Roger Williams at #5 singles, winning 6-2, 6-2 over Lavoie. Erikson's 6-2, 6-3 victory over Bryan Racz at #4 gave the Hawks their crucial fourth point, needing only one more win to advance to the championship.

Ultimately, Kleitz would punch the Hawks' ticket to their second straight TCCC Championship with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Adam Whitman. As Kleitz was wrapping up his win, Norberg and Dabush were concurrently in match point, with Norberg taking his #1 match 7-5, 6-1 against DeNunzio and Dabush beating Lange 6-3, 6-4 at #2. 

---Courtesy of RWU 

Singles competition

1. Gustav Norberg (CSC) def. Jeff DeNunzio (RWU) 7-5, 6-1

2. Ben Dabush (CSC) def. David Lange (RWU) 6-3, 6-4

3. Dan Kleitz (RWU) def. Adam Whitman (CSC) 6-3, 6-3

4. Kevin Erikson (RWU) def. Bryan Racz (CSC) 6-2, 6-3

5. Jason Pacino (RWU) def. Chris Lavoie (CSC) 6-2, 6-3

6. Kyle Baker (RWU) def. Robert Barnes (CSC) 6-1, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. Gustav Norberg/Adam Whitman (CSC) def. David Lange/Dan Kleitz (RWU) 8-5

2. Ben Dabush/Robert Barnes (CSC) def. Kevin Erikson/Nicholas Hawvermale (RWU) 8-5

3. Jeff DeNunzio/Kyle Baker (RWU) def. Jamie Thormann/Chris Lavoie (CSC) 8-2

Match Notes

Colby-Sawyer College 10-11, 7-4 TCCC

Roger Williams 16-6, 11-0 TCCC

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,5,4,3,2,1)

The Commonwealth Coast Conference Semifinals

#1 Roger Williams vs. #4 Colby-Sawyer