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LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. — The Villanova men’s tennis team dropped a 5–2 decision to Rider on Tuesday, April 1, falling in a road matchup despite a pair of strong singles performances.
Rider took early control of the match by sweeping all three doubles flights to earn the opening point. Villanova’s pairs of Ethan Carr and Cooper Gordon, Kush Anand and Thomas Wakefield, and Quincy Jones with Jack Sherner each battled but came up short as the Broncs built a 1–0 lead.
In singles play, Rider extended its advantage with wins in four of the first five completed matches. Matt Froberg Dahlin and Cole Thurgur secured straight-set victories at the top two spots, while Axl Engstrom added another point at No. 4. Heath Paul Waters rallied after dropping the first set to defeat Kush Anand in three sets, helping clinch the match for Rider.
Villanova found success in the bottom half of the lineup. Thomas Wakefield delivered a resilient three-set victory at No. 5, bouncing back after dropping the second set to secure the Wildcats’ first point. Cameron Kruep followed with a straight-set win at No. 6 to close out the day on a positive note for Villanova.
Up Next: The ‘Cats will take on BIG EAST foe DePaul on Saturday, April 4, on their home courts.
RESULTS
Doubles
Froberg Dahlin/Thurgur (RU) def. Carr/Gordon (NOVA), 6–2
Turgambekov/Waters (RU) def. Anand/Wakefield (NOVA), 6–3
Grisci/Miller (RU) def. Jones/Sherner (NOVA), 6–4
Singles
Froberg Dahlin (RU) def. Monahan (NOVA), 6–4, 7–5
Thurgur (RU) def. Carr (NOVA), 6–3, 6–4
Waters (RU) def. Anand (NOVA), 3–6, 6–3, 6–1
Engstrom (RU) def. Jones (NOVA), 6–3, 7–5
Wakefield (NOVA) def. Grisci (RU), 6–3, 4–6, 6–3
Kruep (NOVA) def. Turgambekov (RU), 6–4, 6–4