Vikings Advance to Little East Finals

SALEM, Mass. -- Top seed Salem State advanced to their fourth straight Little East Men's Tennis Championship with a 5-2 victory over fourth seed Bridgewater State on Friday afternoon at the Central Campus Tennis Courts. The Vikings will face second seed Rhode Island College, which knocked of  third seed Western Connecticut earlier today. Salem State will be seeking their second tournament championship while the Anchormen are making their first appearance in the finals.

Salem State (10-2) took two-of-three doubles matches, with Cory Cherico / Roni Bazile securing the first point at No. 2 doubles with an 8-2 victory. The Bears earned a point at No. 3 doubles as Adam Beatrice / Charles Malinowsk defeated Parker Andreoli / Kevin Merino-Rivas, 8-4. Andrew Muttiah / Quentin Wilkins came through with the deciding point, winning 8-5 over Kendan Ziegler / Matthew Krampf at No. 1 doubles.

Bridgewater State's Tyler Barros shutout Josh Gruber at No. 6 singles, 6-0, 6-0, securing the second point for the Bears. However, Salem State's Wilkins beat Fiske, 6-0, 6-3 at No. 4 singles before Muttiah and Bazile clinched the match with consecutive wins for the Vikings. Muttiah blanked Ziegler, 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles and Bazile's 6-2, 6-0 victory against Nutter at No. 2 singles ended the Bears' chances.

Bridgewater State ends their season 5-9.

Tomorrow's championship will be played at Bass River Tennis Club in Beverly, Mass.