NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University tennis team had its three-match winning streak snapped with a tough 5-4 loss to Johnson & Wales University on Saturday afternoon at Shapiro Fieldhouse in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action.
Despite the Cadets (3-2, 1-1 GNAC) taking victories at the top-three singles positions, Johnson & Wales took two doubles matches and fourth through sixth singles to secure the league victory and stay perfect on the year in GNAC play.
Sophomore Ryan Grindle (Essex Junction, Vt.) was the lone NU player to record multiple victories. Grindle recovered after dropping the first set at second singles to JWU's Mars Wala 6-3 to win 6-4 and 7-6 in the second and third set respectively. Grindle stayed perfect on the season in singles matches, improving to 5-0. He also teamed with Joe Dvorak (De Soto, Kan.) to beat Jason Chavenson and Adam Beady 9-8 at second doubles.
Junior Christian Hoskey (Saint Charles, Ill.) also improved to 5-0 in singles matches with a 6-2, 6-3 win over James Adriano at first singles. Sophomore Patrick Ogden (Madison, Ala.) picked up the lone other win for the Cadets at third singles 6-2, 0-6, 7-5 to improve to 4-1.
The Wildcats (3-2, 2-0 GNAC) took two of the three doubles matches, including Wala and Adriano handing Hoskey and Ogden their first loss of the season in doubles action, 8-5. Adam Beady and Drew Pointillo downed Kristine Brammer (Littleton, N.H.) and Gustavo Avila (Phoenix, Ariz.) 8-3 at third doubles.
Beady and Pointillo also scored victories for JWU at fourth and fifth singles with Beady making quick work of Dvorak 6-1, 6-0. Pointillo scored back-to-back 6-4 victories over Brammer at fifth singles. Jake McGuire beat Marshall Core 6-0, 6-0 at sixth singles to cap the Wildcats' victories.
Norwich will try to get back on track on Wednesday when they host Colby-Sawyer College in non-conference action at Shapiro Fieldhouse at 4 p.m. Wednesday's match will mark Norwich's fifth home match out of six to open the 2013 campaign.
Johnson & Wales 5, Norwich University Cadets 4
Mar 30, 2013 at Northfield, Vt. (Shapiro Fieldhouse)
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Singles competition
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1. Christian Hoskey (NORMT13) def. James Adriano (JWU) 6-2, 6-3
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2. Ryan Grindle (NORMT13) def. Mars Wala (JWU) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6
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3. Patrick Ogden (NORMT13) def. Jason Chavenson (JWU) 6-2, 0-6, 7-5
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4. Adam Beady (JWU) def. Joe Dvorak (NORMT13) 6-1, 6-0
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5. Drew Pointillo (JWU) def. Kristine Brammer (NORMT13) 6-4, 6-4
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6. Jake McGuire (JWU) def. Marshall Core (NORMT13) 6-0, 6-0
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Match Notes
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Johnson & Wales 3-2
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Norwich University Cadets 3-2
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T-3:23 A-28
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