NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich men's tennis team needed a victory on Saturday afternoon to try and secure hosting rights for the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) semifinals.

However, Emerson (4-4, 3-1 GNAC) swept all three doubles matches and then claimed victories at first and third singles to stymie Norwich's bid to host for the first time in head coach Kyle Dezotell's six-year tenure at the helm of the program.

The Cadets (6-3, 2-2 GNAC) fought back valiantly in the singles portion of the match, taking four of the six matchups, but it wasn't enough to overcome Emerson's early lead from doubles.

Sophomores Christian Hoskey (Saint Charles, Ill.) and Brandon Carver (Peru, Maine), as well as senior Zach Reichelt (Manchester, Conn.) and freshman Patrick Ogden (Mobile, Ala.) all claimed singles victories for Norwich.

Hoskey, Reichelt and Ogden each needed three sets to win their respective matches while Carver made quick work of Maxwell Abbushi at sixth singles by scores of 6-2 and 6-0.

Hoskey downed Brent Walkoff 6-4, 1-6 and 6-3 to take No. 2 singles while Reichelt battled back from losing the first set 4-6 to Zach Connolly at No. 4 singles and win the second and third sets 6-2, 6-4. Ogden took No. 5 singles 6-3, 4-6, 10-7 over James Landino.

Kevin Blisniuk and Mitchell Lance led Emerson by having a part in two wins each. Lance took care of freshman Ryan Grindle (Essex Junction, Vt.) 6-4, 6-3 in straight sets to win No. 3 singles. Then, Blisniuk handed senior Collin Hyte (Marblehead, Mass.) his first singles loss of the season at No. 1 singles with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) victory in straight sets to clinch the match for the Lions.

Blisniuk teamed with Ken Nikravesh to beat Hoskey and Grindle 8-1 at No. 1 doubles, while Lance combined with Walkoff to take No. 2 doubles 8-6 over Hyte and Reichelt. Landino and Connolly beat Carver and Anthony Verno (Williamson, N.Y.) 8-3 at No. 3 doubles.

Norwich has now lost three of its last four matches after starting the season 5-0. NU will look to close out the regular season with a victory next Saturday when it hosts Anna Maria. With a win, Norwich will keep its chance at the No. 3 seed for the GNAC Tournament alive. The Cadets are currently tied with Johnson & Wales for third place with both teams sporting a 2-2 league mark. JWU has to face Emerson next Saturday.

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-CADETS-