NEW LONDON, Conn. – Becker College advanced to the finals of the NECC Men's Tennis Championship with a 6-3 victory over Mitchell College on Saturday afternoon at the Mitchell Tennis Courts.

The Hawks (7-5 overall) overcame a 2-1 deficit following doubles play by winning five of six singles matches to secure their first-ever appearance in the finals. Becker will play at top-seeded Regis College on Sunday, April 26 at noon.

The match started with Mitchell winning at the top two doubles spots. Adam Diaz (Bellerose Village, N.Y.) and Orson Sinclair (New London, Conn./K12 International Academy) held off Aaron Peterson (San Diego, Calif./Scripps) and Connor Allison (Hillsboro, Ore./Hillsboro) at the top spot to win 8-6. At No. 2, Graham Cavanaugh (Redding, Conn./Forman School) and Michael Berman (Fair Lawn, N.J./Community) ousted Thomas Lanphear (Manchester, Maine/Maranacook) and Thomas Nourie (Morgan Hill, Calif./Valley Christian) by an 8-5 final.

Becker salvaged a hard-fought point at No. 3 to stay in the match as Brittain Morris (Cedar Park, Texas/Vista Ridge) and Francis Musick (Laurel Springs, N.J./Highland Regional) topped Chris McKeon (North Scituate, R.I./Scituate) and Zack Rocheleau (Winchendon, Mass./Oakmont Regional) by a score of 9-7.

The momentum shifted in singles play as Morris and Allison won in straight sets at No. 3 and 4, respectively, to set the pace. Diaz breezed past Lanphear at No. 2 to earn a point for Mitchell, but the final three matches all belonged to the Hawks. Nourie bested McKeon in straight sets at No. 6 while both Peterson and Brian Fradsham (West Boylston, Mass./West Boylston) triumphed in three sets.

The win at No. 1 singles by Peterson sealed the match for the Hawks. He won the first set 6-3 before Cavanaugh battled back for a 6-3 win in the second. The final set was close, though Peterson prevailed by a 6-4 margin to send his squad to the finals.