Men's College Tennis
Monmouth University 6, Rider University 1
LAWRENCEVILLE?Despite a come from behind three-set win by number one singles player Casey Jedlinski, the Rider University men's tennis team lost a non-conference match to cross-state rival Monmouth University Tuesday afternoon. “Four of the singles players had to step up a position due to an injured player,” said head coach Ed Torres. “That one injured player can mean a lot.”
Jedlinski, a senior from Manalapan, New Jersey, dropped the first set to Monmouth's Benjamin Evenden 6-3 before rallying 6-3, 10-8 for the only Bronc point of the day. Last season, Jedlinski lost to Evenden in a three-set battle 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 10-7.
“Casey's serve carried him to victory,” said Torres. “Last year Casey went to a 10-point tie breaker against the same guy and lost so it was a little revenge this year. Casey served very well and that accounted for a lot of free points. Evenden from Monmouth is a big guy and very good player.”
Jedlinski has won four singles matches in a row and improves to 5-2 this fall.
The Broncs lost to the Hawks 7-0 last season.
“If we had Josh Rultenberg, it may have been a closer match,” Torres added about the Bronc sophomore who is nursing a wrist injury. “The set scores would have been more even because our six wouldn't be playing their five and five against their four etc.” Rultenberg (Lafayette Hill, Pa./Plymouth-Whitemarsh) is Rider's number two singles player and teams up for the number one doubles competition with Jedlinski.
The men are back in action on Sunday, hosting Wagner at noon.
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