Ramapo Claims Third Straight GNAC Men's Tennis Championship, Earns NCAA Tourney Berth

The Roadrunners traveled north to top Norwich, 5-4, on Saturday in the 2015 GNAC Men's Tennis Tournament Final.

April 25, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Courtesy of Norwich Athletics Communications

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University men's tennis fought valiantly, but ultimately fell in a heartbreaker, 5-4, to Ramapo College in the 2015 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship match on Saturday afternoon at Shapiro Field House.

The Cadets (7-3, 1-1 GNAC North) made their first appearance in the GNAC title game and won their first-ever GNAC North division title to earn a spot in the championship.

Norwich won two of the three doubles matches, but Ramapo (15-2, 3-0 GNAC South) won four of the first five singles matches to clinch its third straight GNAC Championship and the league's first-ever automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

Ramapo freshman Mike Abelev won the clinching match at No. 3 singles with a thrilling three-set victory over NU sophomore Ian Hyte (Marblehead, Mass.). Abelev was named to the GNAC All-Tournament team along with senior Jacob Khodakov for Ramapo College.

Ramapo freshman Willen Feygin was named the Most Valuable Player after claiming No. 2 singles and teaming with Abelev to take No. 2 doubles to lead the Road Runners with two victories each.

All three doubles matches were tight highly-contested tennis matches with all victories coming by just two points, including two of the matches needing to go extra.

Norwich was led by senior Ryan Grindle (Essex Junction, Vt.) who teamed with Hyte to take No. 1 doubles 8-6 over Khodakov and Justin Bevilacqua. The third doubles team of sophomore Jay Carter (Glassboro, N.J.) and freshman Jeff Purdy (Grantham, N.H.) rallied from down 4-1 to take the match 9-7 from John Seaman and Adam Petrovics.

Grindle also took No. 1 singles with a 6-4, 7-6 win over Khodakov to lead Norwich with two victories on the day and earning All-Tournament team honors. Hyte also joined him on the All-Tournament team.

Purdy also finished 2-0 on the day, rallying to take No. 6 singles over John Seaman 5-7, 7-6, and then took the third set in a 10-point tiebreaker 10-1. Purdy finished his outstanding freshmen campaign with a combined 18-2 record with a 9-1 singles mark and a 9-1 doubles record.

Ramapo also got singles victories at No. 4 with Justin Bevilacqua and No. 5 with Adam Petrovics.

Singles competition

1. Ryan Grindle (NORM2015) def. Jacob Khodakov (RCNJMT) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)

2. Willen Feygin (RCNJMT) def. MarcOlivier Tourigny (NORM2015) 6-3, 6-0

3. Mike Abelev (RCNJMT) def. Ian Hyte (NORM2015) 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4

4. Justin Bevilacqua (RCNJMT) def. Patrick Ogden (NORM2015) 6-1, 6-2

5. Adam Petrovics (RCNJMT) def. Jay Carter (NORM2015) 6-2, 6-4

6. Jeff Purdy (NORM2015) def. John Seaman (RCNJMT) 5-7, 7-6 (9-7), 10-1

Doubles competition

1. Ryan Grindle/Ian Hyte (NORM2015) def. Jacob Khodakov/Justin Bevilacqua (RCNJMT) 8-6

2. Mike Abelev/Willen Feygin (RCNJMT) def. MarcOlivier Tourigny/Patrick Ogden (NORM2015) 9-7

3. Jay Carter/Jeff Purdy (NORM2015) def. Adam Petrovics/John Seaman (RCNJMT) 9-7