The men’s tennis team competed in a doubleheader of dual matches on Wednesday, falling to Rider University 5-2 and Monmouth University 4-0.
The matches served as the Leopards’ first dual matches of the season. Facing off against Rider, the Broncs took the doubles point before winning four of six matches in singles.
At the first singles spot, senior Arman Ganchi lost 7-6 (6) 7-5, while second singles and junior Nick McKenzie lost in a close match tiebreaker after winning a close first set — he lost 5-7 7-5 10-8.
On a day where the Maroon and White couldn’t capitalize in many singles matches, freshman Tyler Mahaffey, playing at the fifth singles spot, was a bright spot in the Leopards’ outing. Winning in an action-packed match tiebreaker, Mahaffey saved five straight match points after going down 9-4 and eventually won 3-6 6-4 13-11.
“It was pretty awesome,” Mahaffey wrote in a text. “It felt great to have the team behind me and deliver for them.”
“It was a tight match on every court so there was definitely a lot of pressure to come through and get a win, especially for my first college dual matches,” he continued.
Junior Sam Gelber won the Leopards’ other point of the day, winning his singles match 7-5 6-3.
The team then faced off against Monmouth, which compiled a 15-6 dual-match record last season. The match was cut short after the Hawks won 4-0, winning the doubles point and three singles matches.
Gelber had evened up his match at fifth singles before it was cut short. He took the second set 6-3 after dropping the opening set 6-1. At second singles, Arman Ganchi led 6-3 3-2 before play was concluded.
“I think it was a good time to play a doubleheader like that,” said Ralph Van Ormer, the head men’s and women’s tennis coach. He added that “the guys competed well, especially for their first dual matches for some of them.”
“The fall season is all about getting a look at the new players, as well as different doubles looks with some different players put together,” he continued.
The Maroon and White will continue their fall campaign tomorrow and Sunday at the Lehigh Invitational.
