HILTON HEAD, SC (March, 9 2020) - The FDU men's tennis team returned to the court Monday evening, while the women's tennis team made their 2020 Spring Break debut at The Chaplin Tennis Center in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The men's team bested Baldwin Wallace University by a tight score of 5-4, as they complete the two-match sweep of the day, and improve to 4-1 on the season. The FDU women's team recorded their fourth 9-0 shutout victory of the season (9/21 vs. Cedar Crest College; 10/4 vs. St. Joseph's College - Brooklyn; 10/11 vs. College of Saint Elizabeth)

FDU Women's Tennis 9 - Cornell College 0

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

The Devils opened what would be a perfect evening with three doubles matches. In the first match, the team of junior's Kira Bradley and Nicole DelRosso upended Megan Pope and Abbey Nelson, by a score of 8-3. Up next, seniors Mia Capozzoli and Christine Kenny defeated the Cornell College duo of Emmaline Fievet and Regina BermudezSmith. In the final doubles match, senior Logan Squires and freshman teammate Kayla Dello Iacono picked up an 8-5 win over Amanda Dragon and Natalie Brandt.

DelRosso started Devils singles competition with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Nelson. Following DelRosso, Kenny got the better of Megan Pope by set victories of 7-5 and 6-2. Up next, Bradley won 6-1 and 6-2 over Fievet. In the fourth singles matchup, Dello Iacono secured 6-3, and 6-2 set wins over BremudezSmith. 

Capozzoli outlasted the opposing Rams' player in three sets, 6-3, 5-7 (15-13). Freshman newcomer Gabrielle Parroco rounded out the day with an 8-3 win over Brandt in her collegiate debut. 

LEAD DEVIL

The aforementioned freshman from Rockaway, NJ, Parroco, helped cement the Devils 9-0 win over the Rams. 

"Gabi has been a great addition to the team this spring. Great competitor and has really settled in and is playing with confidence" - Head Coach Tom Battaglia. 

FDU Men's Tennis 5 - Baldwin Wallace University 4

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

In doubles, the Devils men's team picked up two match victories. The freshman duo of Jonathan Carasso and Zach Puccia were victorious once more on Monday, as they won 8-5 over Anthony Tosatto and Michael Benotti of the Yellow Jackets. To conclude doubles action, senior Kevin Weller and sophomore JT Murray went over the Baldwin Wallace duo of Grant Smith and Edwin Schartman. The Devils were able to notch out the Yellow Jackets using strong play in singles action. Starting things off for FDU was Puccia, who defeated Trey Kernan 6-4 and 6-1. Trailing 4-3, the Devils turned to senior leadership to help them secure the win. First, Weller won 6-1 and 6-0 over Tossato. To close things out, senior Chris Fiorenza closed out the Yellow Jackets Schartman by scores of 6-1 and 6-1. 

LEAD DEVIL 

After a stellar morning against Webster University, Puccia picked up two more wins to finish 4-0 on the day. His doubles win with classmate Carasso proved to be the difference in the match. 

"He's (Zach Puccia) a freshman playing with the experience and confidence of a senior" - Head Coach Tom Battaglia. 

FROM THE COACH

Battaglia on the Devils 5-4 victory over Baldwin Wallace 

"Again, doubles set the pace for the match. We don't win 2nd and 3rd doubles we don't win this match. Guys are playing like they belong with anybody, and we need that confidence for conference play. Having our women's lacrosse team cheer us on really pumped us up and carried our 2nd doubles team."

Battaglia on the Devils 9-0 victory over Cornell College

"Cornell was a very talented team and our women really stepped it up from the start. Came out a little tight but once we got our teeth into the match we settled in. Christine fought back from a 5-0 hole in the first and Mia played great in her third set tiebreak. All good signs going forward."

UP NEXT 

Both Devils programs will return to the courts on Thursday, March 12, to resume play in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Both programs faceoff against Gettysburg College at 1 PM. Later in the day, the women's tennis team will go up against Catholic University of America at 5 PM.