Hounds Defeat Drew for First Time Since 1996
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College men’s tennis team earned its first win over six-time defending Landmark Conference Champion Drew University since 1996 with an 8-1 victory Saturday afternoon at Hoffman Courts.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College men's tennis team earned its first win over six-time defending Landmark Conference Champion Drew University since 1996 with an 8-1 victory Saturday afternoon at Hoffman Courts.
The Greyhounds had dropped 17 consecutive matches to the Rangers since a 6-3 win on March 26, 1996, and that had been Moravian's only win in the series in the previous 31 matches. The win Saturday was just the 10th versus Drew in 56 matches between the schools.
"We're happy to get a win against Drew since they have won every Landmark title and are a very good team," stated Head Coach Art Smith. "I thought everyone played hard. This is a great team win and should give our guys the confidence they need heading into the rest of the season.
Moravian opened the match by sweeping the doubles action for a 3-0 lead. Sophomores Matt Tuorto and John Wylie posted an 8-6 victory at first doubles while junior Lewis Cooper and freshman Mike Antonis had an 8-0 shutout at second doubles. Sophomore C.J. Widdifield and freshman Giovanni Lombardi finished the doubles with an 8-5 win at third doubles.
Tuorto and Cooper would seal the team win with straight sets victories in singles. Tuorto had a 6-2, 6-1 triumph at first singles while Cooper won 7-5, 6-2 at third singles. Wylie suffered the Greyhounds' only loss of the afternoon in a tough, hard-fought match at second singles that saw him win the first set 7-6, 7-5 in a tiebreaker before dropping the second set 7-6 (7-4 in the tiebreaker) and the third set 12-10 in a tiebreaker since the match had been determined at that point.
Antonis would post a 6-2, 6-1 victory in fourth singles while Lombardi was victorious by a 6-1, 6-2 margin at fifth singles. Freshman Dan Schmucker rounded out the line-up with a 6-4, 6-1 win in sixth singles.
Moravian is slated to return to action on Tuesday, March 25 in a non-conference match at rival Muhlenberg College beginning at 5:00 p.m. in Allentown.
