NORTHFIELD, Vt. - In a match that came down to the final two singles contests, the Norwich University men's tennis team suffered a heartbreaking 5-4 defeat to Thomas College in a non-conference showdown on Saturday afternoon at Shapiro Fieldhouse.

The Cadets found themselves trailing 2-1 after doubles play, with the lone victory coming from the No. 3 doubles tandem of Thomas Riddick (Clayton, N.C.) and Stephen Hartigan (Tyngsboro, Mass.), who gutted out a tiebreaker win.

Norwich responded well in singles, winning three of the first four matches to earn a 4-3 advantage.  Keagan Bakke (Gun Barrel City, Texas), Terrance Bayly-Henshaw (Scottsville, N.Y.), and Jaxson Redmond (Kennebunkport, Maine) all earned crucial victories to put the Cadets within striking distance of a win.

However, the Terriers found their footing in the final two singles match-ups, as Casey Duncan and Calvin Cutler secured straight-set victories at No. 6 and No. 5 singles, respectively, to complete the comeback win for Thomas.

Despite the setback, Norwich showed resilience in a match that featured multiple close sets and tiebreakers.

MATCH RESULTS:
SINGLES:

• No. 1 - Keagan Bakke (Norwich) def. Gabriel McPhail (Thomas), 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
• No. 2 - Terrance Bayly-Henshaw (Norwich) def. Seb Soto (Thomas), 6-4, 7-5
• No. 3 - Jaxson Redmond (Norwich) def. Camden Herrick (Thomas), 6-4, 6-4
• No. 4 - Dominic Clifford (Thomas) def. Thomas Riddick (Norwich), 6-3, 6-0
• No. 5 - Calvin Cutler (Thomas) def. Gabe Wettig (Norwich), 7-5, 6-3
• No. 6 - Casey Duncan (Thomas) def. Stephen Hartigan (Norwich), 6-3, 6-1

DOUBLES:

• No. 1 - McPhail/Soto (Thomas) def. Bayly-Henshaw/Redmond (Norwich), 8-7
• No. 2 - Herrick/Clifford (Thomas) def. Bakke/Wettig (Norwich), 8-2
• No. 3 - Riddick/Hartigan (Norwich) def. Magiera/Withee (Thomas), 8-7

Norwich will look to bounce back quickly, as the Cadets head to Topnotch Tennis Academy in Stowe, Vt., on Wednesday, Mar. 26, to face Vermont State University Johnson in their final tune-up before conference play.  They will return to Shapiro Fieldhouse on Saturday, Mar. 29, to host SUNY Delhi at 1:00 p.m. in their North Atlantic Conference (NAC) opener.