Men's College Tennis
St. Thomas Aquinas 4, Rider University 3
LAWRENCEVILLE--The Rider University men's tennis team split three singles matches but lost the doubles point and the match to St. Thomas Aquinas in non-conference action Sunday afternoon.
"The match was very close today," said head coach Ed Torres. "The match came down to first singles which we lost in three sets. The team played very well. Not winning the doubles point came back to haunt us. Ninety percent of the time, the winner of doubles wins the match. It was a good match that could have gone either way and we came up a little short."
For Rider, senior Rob Olsen (Marlton/Cherokee) won his fifth singles match 6-0, 6-0 and teamed up with sophomore Milo Milosovici (Florence) for an 8-4 win at third doubles.
Also for the Broncs, sophomore John Spellman (Toms River/Toms River HS South) won at fourth singles in straight sets with sophomore Ryan Carpenter (Sahuarita, Ariz./Sahuarita) winning his sixth singles match in three sets.
"The bottom part of the lineup played a steady match and kept the ball in play," said Torres. "John always plays a steady style and his serve and back hand have improved. He is coming into the net more and volleying and that makes him a better player. And Rob, he kept the ball alive and has been using his 6-4 height to his advantage. With Olsen, when he comes to the net, he is a threat, with a reach like an octopus. He is making his points shorter."
Rider travels to Fordham on Tuesday.
-RU-
