Box Score DANBURY, Conn. - The Western Connecticut State University men's tennis team opened the 2021 season with a convincing 9-0 victory over visiting University of Southern Maine at Westside Courts on Saturday.

" It feels great to get the season started with a win," said WestConn head coach Shawn Stillman.  "These men have worked very hard and have continued to improve in practice. It was a good test today as USM has a bunch of competitors. We'll enjoy today and get back at it on Monday."

Senior Aaron Campos (Riodgefield, Conn.) and Matthew Carino (Sandy Hook, Conn.) debuted as number one doubles duo.  After taking an early 4-1 lead the pair were forced to a tiebreaker which we won 7-3 and gave the Colonials an early 1-0 lead with the 8-7 tally over Adam Papayoanou (Valencia, Calf.) and Cole Ouellette (Lewiston, Me.).

Senior Myckland Cothias (Danbury, Conn) and junior Jay Kilcourse (New Fairfield, Conn.) were dominant in their doubles victory, 8-2 against and Jonathan Bartuccio-Pereira (St. Bruno, Quebec) and Shawn Gagnier (Lewiston, Me.).

At third-flight pairs, WestConn senior Will Hogan (Ridgefield, Conn.) and sophomore Sebastian Frisch (Redding, Conn.) raced out to a 5-0 lead against Antonione Gignac (Quebec City, Quebec) and Gabriel Couture (Boucherville, Quebec), but barely snuck by winning 8-6.

Campos and Carino were dominate in singles action, winning 6-0, 6-0 and 6-1, 6-0 over Papayoanou and Oullette, respectively.

After dropping the first set, Hogan battled back to win 12 out of the next 13 games to win in three sets, 2-6, 6-1 and 6-0 over Gagnier

At fourth singles, Frisch closed out his first two collegiate victories, defeating JBP, 6-2, 6-2.

Kilcourse and Mitchell Kindred (New Fairfield, Conn.) captured victories at fifth and sixth solos, respectively.

WestConn is off until it plays host to Rhode Island College on Wednesday, April 7.  The doubleheader with the women is set for a 3 pm first serve.

WestConn 9, University of Southern Maine 0
 
 Singles competition

1. Aaron Campos (WCSUM) def. Adam Papayoanou (SMMTE21) 6-0, 6-0
2. Will Hogan (WCSUM) def. Cole Ouellette (SMMTE21) 2-6, 6-1, 6-0
3. Matthew Carino (WCSUM) def. Shawn Gagnier (SMMTE21) 6-1, 6-0
4. Sebastian Frisch (WCSUM) def. J. Bartuccio-Pereira (SMMTE21) 6-2, 6-2
5. Jay Kilcourse (WCSUM) def. Antoine Gignac (SMMTE21) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
6. Mitchell Kindred (WCSUM) def. Gabriel Couture (SMMTE21) 6-3, 6-2

 Doubles competition

1. Aaron Campos/Matthew Carino (WCSUM) def. Adam Papayoanou/Cole Ouellette (SMMTE21) 8-7 (7-3)
2. Myckland Cothias/Jay Kilcourse (WCSUM) def. Shawn Gagnier/J. Bartuccio-Pereira (SMMTE21) 8-2
3. Will Hogan/Sebastian Frisch (WCSUM) def. Antoine Gignac/Gabriel Couture (SMMTE21) 8-6
 
Match Notes:
University of Southern Maine 0-1, 0-1 LEC
WestConn 1-0, 1-0 LEC