Tennis Lands Four on All-Conference Squad
ATTLEBORO, Mass. -- The Mitchell College men's tennis team placed four members on the New England Collegiate Conference all-conference team, led by junior Zachary Simmons who was tabbed NECC Rookie of the Year.
For the second consecutive season, Michael Beluch of Regis College was named NECC Men's Tennis Player of the Year in a vote by the conference coaches. Beluch helped lead the Pride to an undefeated regular season in the NECC and the program's first conference championship. Beluch, the 2012 Rookie of the Year, was a perfect 10-0 at the No. 1 singles position in 2013 and did not drop a set in conference play. Bleuch teamed with Jeff Parrish to earn first team doubles honors as well.
Joining Beluch and Parrish on the first team is junior teammate Andy White. White, who earned first team honors for the second straight year, went 7-3 this season playing No. 2 and No. 3 singles for the Pride.
Simmons, playing his first season of collegiate tennis, earned wins in 16 of 18 total matches. He went undefeated at No. 2 singles and his only loss came in three sets while playing out of position at No. 1 due to a teammate's illness.
Joining Simmons on the first team from Mitchell were senior Rocco Devona and freshman Graham Cavanaugh. Devona earned his fourth all-conference selection in singles. All of Devona's wins came in straight sets while playing No. 1 singles, with his only defeats coming to Beluch.
Cavanaugh was 6-0 at No. 3 singles, earned a win playing No. 2 against Lesley and his only conference loss came at the No. 1 spot to Becker. Simmons and Cavanaugh went 7-0 at No. 1 doubles and earned first team doubles recognition as a duo. Devona and junior Randy Coons also earned honorable mention status for doubles play.
Lesley's Nick Mattox also earned first-team accolades as a singles player. The senior was 5-5 in conference play at No. 1 singles.
Regis head coach John Ciarleglio was named NECC Coach of the Year by his peers. The Pride were 10-0 in conference play and won their first NECC title. Newbury College earned the Team Sportsmanship Award.
Additional players named are due to ties in the voting process.
2013 NECC Men's Tennis All-Conference Team
Player of the Year: Michael Beluch, Regis (So. - Lynn, Mass.)
Rookie of the Year: Zachary Simmons, Mitchell (Jr. - Coventry, Conn.)
Coach of the Year: John Ciarleglio, Regis
Team Sportsmanship Award: Newbury College
First Team All-Conference Singles
Michael Beluch, Regis (So. - Lynn, Mass.)
Graham Cavanaugh, Mitchell (Fr. - Redding, Conn.)
Rocco Devona, Mitchell (Sr. - Waterford, Conn.)
Nick Mattox, Lesley (Sr. - Pasadena, Md.)
Zachary Simmons, Mitchell (Jr. - Coventry, Conn.)
Andy White, Regis (Jr. - Bozeman, Mont.)
First Team All-Conference Doubles
Michael Beluch, So./Jeff Parrish, Jr. - Regis
Zachary Simmons, Jr./Graham Cavanaugh, Fr. - Mitchell
Honorable Mention Singles
Branden Parkhouse, Becker (Sr. - Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)
Jeff Parrish, Regis (Jr. - Framingham, Mass.)
Alex Zhitnik, Lesley (Sr. - West Hartford, Conn.)
Honorable Mention Doubles
Rocco Devona, Sr./Randy Coons, Jr. - Mitchell
