LEWISTON, Maine -- The Bates men's tennis team opened its home spring schedule in dominant fashion, rolling past both the University of Southern Maine and Nichols College with decisive 7-0 sweeps of both opponents Saturday at Merrill Gymnasium.
The Bobcats (2-4) set the tone early by securing all three doubles matches before showcasing their depth in singles play to blank the Huskies.
Bates wasted no time asserting control in doubles action. The tandem of Nicolas Ozer and James Sacco made quick work of Zach Desmarais and Cole Ouellette at the No. 1 spot with a commanding 6-1 victory. The Bobcats clinched the doubles point moments later as Eli Criss and Evangelo Kapothanasis breezed past Zac Howe and Azam Jiwa, 6-0, at No. 2. Alex Park and Griffin Williams completed the sweep with a 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles over Charlie Bitar and Landon Weaver.
With a 1-0 lead in hand, Bates carried its momentum into singles, where the team put together a flawless display of efficiency. Sacco grabbed a dominant 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Jiwa at No. 2 singles. Williams followed suit at the No. 6 slot, shutting out Bitar in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. Kapothanasis clinched a convincing 6-0, 6-1 win over Desmarais at No. 3.
Criss added to the rout at No. 4 singles, dispatching Howe without surrendering a game, 6-0, 6-0. Shim took care of business at No. 5 with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Weaver, and Ozer capped off the sweep with a decisive 6-0, 6-2 win over Ouellette at the top singles spot.
In the nightcap vs. Nichols, the Bobcats returned to the court and delivered another strong performance.
Bates set the tone in doubles play as the duo of Phillippe Kosyagin and Theo Sardain held off Caio Dieckmann and Richard Hartmann Zuzio at the No. 1 spot, 6-4. Ben Adey and Evangelo Kapothanasis outlasted Enzo Matos Balleux and Kerem Subasi, 7-5, at No. 2. Tylan Ozkuzey and Eric Diop completed the clean sweep in doubles with a 6-4 triumph at No. 3.
The Bobcats stayed hot in singles play. Sardain grinded out a 6-4, 7-6 (1) win at No. 2 singles over Hartmann Zuzio. Ozkuzey provided a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over Rodolfo Hernandez at No. 6.
Diop put together a convincing 6-2, 6-2 win over Leon Zeis at No. 3, and Adey added another emphatic performance at No. 4, dispatching Matos Balleux 6-2, 6-0. Park then held off a challenge from Dieckmann at No. 5, pulling out a 7-5, 6-2 win. Kosyagin capped the perfect day with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 shutout of Subasi at the No. 1 spot.
"Really solid team wins today," said Bates head coach, Paul Gastonguay '89. "I was proud of our guys staying locked in and playing to our system, and resetting every point and doing it again. When we all do that together, it results in good stuff happening for the team score."
Bates now looks forward to a great week of practice as the Bobcats open NESCAC play next Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. with a home match vs. Connecticut College.
