BENNINGTON, Vt. - The Norwich University men's tennis team defeated Mass. College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) 7-2 on Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at the Bennington Tennis Center.

Norwich (2-2) won its second straight match and kicked off its first-ever Spring Break trip in program history on a winning note.

Junior Dylan Ackerman (Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands), sophomore Alexi Gilmore (Haverhill, Mass.) and senior Sam Beiter (Youngstown, N.Y.) each picked up two victories to lead the Cadets to the win.

Ackerman took No. 1 singles 6-4, 6-1 over Matt Bluteau and teamed with Beiter to take No. 1 doubles over Bluteau and Samantha Gawron 8-3 to help lead the Cadets. Gilmore teamed with Noah Stillman (Danbury, Conn.) to take No. 2 doubles 8-2 and then he won No. 2 singles 6-0, 6-0 over Gawron.

Beiter won No. 4 singles 6-2, 6-1 over Nick Castle to account for his second victory of the day.

After losing No. 3 doubles, sophomore Abbie Barker (Warren, Vt.) and junior Timothy Birnbaum (Mahwah, N.J.) each won their singles matches at No. 6 and No. 5 singles respectively. Barker beat Mackenna Jordan 6-1, 6-2; while Birnbaum downed Mohamed Mahrous 6-0, 6-2. 

Norwich will continue its spring break trip with a long van ride to Pittsburgh tonight before the Cadets take on Pitt.-Greensburg at 11 a.m. on Sunday.