RUTLAND, Vt. – The Norwich University men's tennis opened its 2015 campaign with an impressive 8-1 win over Castleton State on Wednesday night at the Grand Slam Tennis Center.

Senior Ryan Grindle (Essex Junction, Vt.) opened the season with a pair of victories, taking No. 1 singles 7-6, 6-2 over Kyle Martin. He also teamed with sophomore Ian Hyte (Marblehead, Mass.) to lead the Cadets to a clean sweep of the three doubles matches at No. 1 doubles by a score of 8-5.

Freshman Marc-Olivier Tourigny (Drummondville, Quebec) debuted at No. 2 singles with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Andrew Overton. Tourigny also teamed with senior Patrick Ogden (Madison, Ala.) to take No. 2 doubles 8-3 over Martin and Overton.

Ogden picked up the win at No. 4 singles with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Christopher Bellanger to make it 10 straight singles wins.

Sophomore Jay Carter (Glassboro, N.J.) topped Ryan Mulder at No. 5 singles with a 6-2, 6-2 victory. He also teamed with freshman Jeff Purdy (Lebanon, N.H.) to take No. 3 doubles by an 8-1 score over Mulder and Trevor Hanna.

Purdy picked up the win at No. 6 singles with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Hanna.

Castleton's lone victory came at No. 3 singles with Seth Marcil downing Hyte 6-3, 6-2.

Norwich returns to action on Friday, March 6 when it hosts Southern Maine at 5 p.m. at Shapiro Fieldhouse in the Cadets' home opener. The match will be the USM's 2015 season opener and then the Huskies will complete the Vermont swing on Saturday when they travel to Castleton State.

Castleton 1 Norwich 8 at Castleton

Singles

Grindle (N) def. Kyle Martin (C)  7-6, 6-2 
Tourigny (N) def. Andrew Overton (C)  6-3, 6-1
Seth Marcil (C) def. Hyte (N)   6-3, 6-2
Ogden  (N) def. Chris Belanger (C) 6-0, 6-1
Carter (N) def. Ryan Mulder (C)  6-2, 6-2
Purdy (N) def. Trevor Hanna (C)  6-1, 6-2

Doubles
Hyte and Grindle (N) def. S. Marcil and C. Belanger (C)   8-5
Tourigny and Ogden (N) def. K. Martin and A. Overton (C) 8-3 
Carter and Purdy def. R. Mulder and T. Hanna  (C)  8-1