Box Score

Danbury, CT (Mar. 14, 2013) – A blistering afternoon on the courts at Western Connecticut State did not slow Purchase, who swept the Colonials 9-0 to begin the season 3-1 overall.

Undaunted by the wintery weather and the uncharacteristic playing conditions for tennis, the Panthers notched their second straight victory – another lopsided non-conference final – this time against WestConn (0-1), which had very little answers for the cold and the Panthers.   

“Arguably the coldest day I have experienced on a college tennis court,” said head coach Peter Nestel, who coached previously in Wisconsin, but noted the temperature in the low 20s and the wind chill, which made for an “even colder day on the courts.”

“It was absolutely freezing. But the team pulled it together and did its best to not allow it to be a distraction,” he added.

Doubles was a clean sweep with Jeremyah Schur (SO/Forest Hills, NY) and Brenden Keeling (SR/Ontario, Canada) earning an 8-3 final at No. 1. Chris Matchneer (SR/Larchmont, NY) and Dylan DeBiase (JR/High Falls, NY) followed in an 8-2 final at second doubles, and the tandem of Pocholo Chavez (JR/Stony Point, NY) and Cody Zweier (SO/West Hempstead, NY) capped the doubles in an 8-2 win.  

Later, Schur defeated Brian Bucknam at first singles (6-1, 6-0) and Keeling topped Chris Turner (6-1, 6-4) at No. 2. The Panthers also looked sharp in third, fourth, fifth and sixth singles, with DeBiase taking his match at No. 3 (6-1, 6-2), Chavez playing up at No. 4 and taking a 6-1, 6-0 decision, Matchneer earning a 6-3, 6-0 final and Franco Paz (FR/Tarrytown, NY) winning at No. 6 (6-1, 6-2) to cap the sweep.