The Suffolk University Men's Tennis team wrapped up their perfect 2010 regular season on Thursday afternoon with a 5-4 victory over Salem State College finishing the season at 11-0. Five days after winning their second Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship, the Rams finished perfect for the first time in their program history and will now wait in hopes of consideration for their first NCAA Regional Tournament bid.
Senior Jared Orkin (Newton, Mass.) pushed his overall singles season record to 10-0 as he was victorious in the number three position for the Rams winning 6-3 in the third tiebreak. Orkin lost his first set 7-5, but was victorious in the next two, taking the second 6-1. Orkin also partnered with junior Nick Pratt (Sutton, Mass.) for a victory in doubles play. The duo won their fourth game of the season, 8-2.
Junior John Samander (Curacao, Netherlands) also earned two points for the Rams on the day as he was a winner in both singles and doubles action. Samander picked up his tenth win of the year in singles action out of the five spot for the Rams as he won consecutive sets, 6-1 and 6-0. Samander and sophomore Chris Staley (London, England) moved to 11-0 as a pairing as they were 8-6 winners in the second doubles spot.
Senior Justin Ayoub (Brooklyn, N.Y.) got the Rams other point on the day as he was a winner in the sixth singles position, 6-2 in both sets.
Freshman Harlan Strader (Marblehead, Mass.) suffered his first loss of the season in singles play as he was forced to retire in the second set of his singles match due to back stiffness. The GNAC Co-Rookie of the Year finishes an impressive rookie campaign as he went 10-1 in singles play and 9-2 in doubles play.
The Rams must now sit and wait in hopes of an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament. The 42-team field will be announced on May 9.