Easton, Mass. - The fifth-seeded Adelphi University men's tennis team traveled to #4 Stonehill College for the first round of the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament on Wednesday. The Panthers edged the Skyhawks by a 5-2 decision to improve to 13-7 overall and advance to the semifinals; with the loss, the Skyhawks drop to 15-9. The win marked Adelphi's first victory against Stonehill in postseason play, as the Skyhawks bested the Panthers in the first round in both the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.
The Panthers fell behind 1-0 at the start of play as Nick Hyzak and Thomas Alaimo defeated Boris Tiberkov and Ryan White by an 8-2 score at second doubles. However, the Panthers rebounded as Alan Chocron and Chiwete Njokanma recorded an 8-4 win in the third slot and Andreas Hammar and Bryan Kallenberg followed with an 8-6 victory at top-flight doubles. As a result, the Panthers led 2-1 going into singles play.
Njokanma was the first finisher for Adelphi in solo play, as he recorded a 6-1, 6-4 victory at sixth singles. Hammar soon followed with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 decision at the top spot, which put the Brown and Gold one victory away from the semifinals. Although Tiberkov fell to Chris Martin in straight sets in the fifth spot, Chocron rallied after dropping the first set to prevail 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 over Philip Klados in the fourth spot to secure the Panthers' semifinal berth.
Kallenberg and Brenner were both battling their opponents in second sets when matches were called following Chocron's victory.
The Panthers return to action on Friday, April 19 when they travel to #1 Merrimack for the Northeast-10 Conference semifinals. The Warriors bested the Panthers by a close 5-4 decision during the regular season on April 7.
Singles
1. Andreas Hammar (ADE) def. Eric Ringstad (STO) 6-1, 6-2
2. Nick Hyzak (STO) vs. Bryan Kallenberg (ADE) 7-5, 5-3, unfinished
3. Thomas Alaimo (STO) vs. Sander Brenner (ADE) 3-6, 5-3, unfinished
4. Alan Chocron (ADE) def. Philip Klados (STO) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
5. Chris Martin (STO) def. Boris Tiberkov (ADE) 6-1, 6-4
6. Chiwete Njokanma (ADE) def. Brett Armstrong (STO) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles
1. Andreas Hammar/Bryan Kallenberg (ADE) def. Eric Ringstad/Chris Martin (STO) 8-6
2. Nick Hyzak/Thomas Alaimo (STO) def. Boris Tiberkov/Ryan White (ADE) 8-2
3. Alan Chocron/Chiwete Njokanma (ADE) def. Philip Klados/Brett Armstrong (STO) 8-4
