DANBURY, Conn. - The Western Connecticut State University Wolves advanced to the Little East Conference (LEC) Men's Tennis Championship Semifinals for the third year in a row with a 5-1 victory over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in the LEC Championship First Round on Westside Courts this afternoon.  No. 4-seeded WestConn improves to 8-9 with its third consecutive victory and will visit top-seeded Rhode Island College in the LEC Championship Semifinals on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.  The Wolves will be facing the Anchormen in the conference semifinals for the third straight season, having lost, 5-2, in 2023, and, 5-3, last spring.

WestConn got off to a positive start, winning two of three doubles points including one on a dominant performance at the top of the ladder by senior Kevin Tenesaca (Danbury, Conn.) and junior Aidan Burke (Wilton, Conn.).  The pair blanked Southern Maine's Jaden Parker and Cole Ouellette, 8-0, while Wolves senior Caleb Harris (Guilford, Conn.) and freshman Jose Zambrano (Danbury, Conn.) won, 8-2, at third doubles.  Azam Weaver and Zach Desmarais downed WestConn's Nicholas Peschier (Bridgeport, Conn.) and freshman Henry Gsell (Bridgewater, Conn.), 8-2, at second doubles to make it, 2-1.

In singles, Tenesaca, Burke, and Zambrano each won in straight sets to clinch the team victory at 5-1.  Tenesaca downed Parker, 6-3, 6-1, at the top of the ladder, Burke defeated Ouellette, 6-1, 6-2, at the No. 2 position, and Zambrano won, 6-2, 6-3, over Kayde Kinaschuk at the No. 6 spot in the singles lineup.  The Wolves had won the first set in each of the three remaining singles matches when the decision was clinched.

"Conference playoffs are a whole different animal," said WestConn Head Coach Shawn Stillman. "Players are often tight and don't play their best under pressure. Today, we stressed the importance to stay focused and they played well. It was also a great way to end the home careers for our seniors Nick, Kevin, and Caleb. They're a great trio and they will be missed next year."