LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Javier Melendez (Cayey, PR/Colegio La Merced) won his first singles match as a Bronc, but the Rider University men's tennis team was defeated by St. Francis Brooklyn, 5-2, Monday afternoon. With the loss, the Broncs slip to 1-3, while the Terriers are now 1-1.
 
St. Francis won a pair of tightly-contested doubles matches at Nos. 1 and 3 to clinch the doubles point. Melendez and Lysander Payano Almonte (New Brunswick, NJ/Colegio Quusquey/Rockland C.C.) were edged by Francisco Adolfo Blanco and Alejandro Ridruejo, 7-6, at No. 1, while Griffin Clark (Lititz, PA/Manheim Township) and Brandon Gildea (Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Regional) battled back from down, 5-3, against Stefan Gmijovic and Pablo Blasco-Torres to even the score at 5-5 before falling, 7-5, at No. 3.
 
Melendez battled for a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6, win at No. 2 singles against Javier Navarro, while Clark cruised past Tim Cecere, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 6. But the Terriers took the remaining four flights to clinch the 5-2 win.
 
"We played well and had our chances to win more matches," said Rider Head Coach Doug Potkay. "Javier played a more aggressive style, attacking more with his forehand. Griffin was very patient today and allowed his opponent to make the mistakes."
 
The Broncs return to action Wednesday, when they travel to Fairfield for a league match. First serve is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
St. Francis Brooklyn 5, Rider University 2
 Singles competition
1. Ridruejo, Alejandro (SFNY-M) def. Payano Almonte, Lysa (RID-M) 7-6, 6-2
2. Melendez, Javier (RID-M) def. Navarro, Javier (SFNY-M) 6-3, 2-6, 7-6
3. Artiz, Guillermo (SFNY-M) def. Delgado, Diego (RID-M) 6-2, 6-2
4. Blanco, Francisco Ad (SFNY-M) def. Gildea, Brandon (RID-M) 6-2, 6-0
5. Blasco-Torres, Pablo (SFNY-M) def. Van Herwarde, Jeremy (RID-M) 6-1, 6-4
6. Clark, Griffin (RID-M) def. Cecere, Tim (SFNY-M) 6-0, 6-1
 
 Doubles competition
1. Blanco, Francisco Ad/Ridruejo, Alejandro (SFNY-M) def. Payano Almonte, Lysa/Melendez, Javier (RID-M) 7-6
2. Artiz, Guillermo/Navarro, Javier (SFNY-M) def. Van Herwarde, Jeremy/Delgado, Diego (RID-M) 6-0
3. Gmijovic, Stefan/Blasco-Torres, Pablo (SFNY-M) def. Clark, Griffin/Gildea, Brandon (RID-M) 7-5
 
Match Notes:
St. Francis Brooklyn 1-1
Rider University 1-3