College Tennis

Men: St. Thomas Aquinas 6, Rider University 1

Women: Rider University 4, St. Thomas Aquinas 3

SPARKILL, NY— The Rider University women's tennis team grinded out a 4-3 comeback win over the Spartans of St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday morning.

“After losing the doubles point, the women rebounded well to take four singles matches,” said head coach Doug Potkay. “It was a great comeback win for them.”

Freshman Cyd Melendez (Cayey, PR/Colegio La Merced) won 6-2, 6-0 at second singles to improve to 5-2 on the year, all at second singles. Fellow freshman Amanda Binder (Princeton/West Windsor Plainsboro HS North) took her fourth singles match 6-2, 6-0 for her third win of the year.

Also winning for the Broncs were junior Danielle Scrudato (Califon/Voorhees) at fifth singles (6-3, 6-0) and junior Olivia Banks (Baltimore, MD/Franklin) at sixth singles (6-3, 2-6, 6-4).

Sophomore Vanessa Canda (Jersey City/McNair Academic HS) came back from one set down to force a third set in a three and a half hour marathon, but came up just short on a third-set tiebreak 4-6, 6-2, 6-7 (4-7).

For the men, sophomore Ryan Ciaccio (Mercerville/Hamilton North (Nottingham)) won his team-leading fifth match of the season, winning 8-2 (using a pro set score) at sixth singles.

“The scores don't show how competitive the men were in their matches, but St. Thomas Aquinas hit some remarkable shots to win those game points,” added Potkay.

The men and women travel to Worcester, Massachusetts to take on the College of the Holy Cross on October 16 at 11am in their penultimate match of the fall season.

-RU-