ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Norwich University men's tennis team saw its remarkable 2025 campaign come to a close on Friday afternoon, falling 5-0 to top-seeded Nazareth University in the Empire 8 Semifinals at the Annette Shapiro Tennis Courts.

The Golden Flyers surged out of the gates with a dominant sweep in doubles, then secured the match with straight-set wins at No. 5 and No. 6 singles to clinch the team victory and a spot in the Empire 8 Championship.

Nazareth opened the afternoon with a commanding 8-0 win at No. 1 doubles, as Max Funiciello and Griffin Bond blanked the duo of Jaxson Redmond (Kennebunkport, Maine) and Terrance Bayly-Henshaw (Scottsville, N.Y.).  The hosts extended their momentum at No. 3 doubles, where Pierre Ntonga and David Tuller took down Brandon Adamson (Londonderry, N.H.) and Ethan Teluk (Manlius, N.Y.), 8-2.  Norwich's No. 2 pair of Keagan Bakke (Gun Barrel City, Texas) and Gabe Wettig (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) battled admirably before falling, 8-5, to Chris Benedict and Noah Britton.

Nazareth then wasted no time in closing out the match.  Benedict blanked Teluk at No. 5 singles, 6-0, 6-0, while Tuller matched the feat at No. 6 singles with a 6-0, 6-0 decision over Adamson to seal the match at 5-0.  With the result decided, the remaining singles contests were halted, though all four courts leaned in Nazareth's favor.

Despite the loss, the semifinal appearance marked a significant milestone for the Cadets, who wrapped up the season with a stellar 10-4 overall record.  Norwich hosted its first home playoff match in a decade and notched its first postseason victory since 2015, showcasing the program's growth and competitiveness in its debut year in the Empire 8 Conference.

MATCH RESULTS:
SINGLES:

• No. 1 - Griffin Bond (Nazareth) unfinished vs. Keagan Bakke (Norwich), 6-2, 3-0
• No. 2 - Max Funiciello (Nazareth) unfinished vs. Terrance Bayly-Henshaw (Norwich), 6-2, 3-0
• No. 3 - Pierre Ntonga (Nazareth) unfinished vs. Jaxson Redmond (Norwich), 6-4
• No. 4 - Noah Britton (Nazareth) unfinished vs. Gabe Wettig (Norwich), 6-1, 4-1
• No. 5 - Chris Benedict (Nazareth) def. Ethan Teluk (Norwich), 6-0, 6-0
• No. 6 - David Tuller (Nazareth) def. Brandon Adamson (Norwich), 6-0, 6-0

DOUBLES:

• No. 1 - Funiciello/Bond (Nazareth) def. Redmond/Bayly-Henshaw (Norwich), 8-0
• No. 2 - Benedict/Britton (Nazareth) def. Bakke/Wettig (Norwich), 8-5
• No. 3 - Ntonga/Tuller (Nazareth) def. Adamson/Teluk (Norwich), 8-2

Nazareth will now face No. 2W SUNY Oswego in the Empire 8 Championship on Saturday after the Lakers upset East Division champion Thomas College, 7-2.