DOVER, DE – Sophomore Caitlin Gardner (Fishers, IN/Fishers) won at both singles and doubles as the Rider University women's tennis team knocked off Delaware State, 4-3, Tuesday afternoon. With the win, the Broncs avenge a 5-2 loss last season and even their record at 5-5, while handing the Hornets (6-1) their first loss of the season. 

“The women played extremely well today against a very tough opponent,” said Rider Head Coach Doug Potkay.

With DSU playing with only five players, the Broncs took the doubles point on the strength of Gardner and Amanda Binder's (Princeton, NJ/West Windsor Plainsboro HS North) 6-3 win at No. 2 doubles over Milan Graves and Leza Bessanova. 

Freshman Cyd Melendez (Cayey, Puerto Rico/Colegio La Merced) and Gardner won at Nos. 2 and 5 singles, respectively, while the Broncs picked up No. 6 singles by default. Melendez defeated Elvira Galieva, 6-3, 6-1, while Gardner got past Bessanova, 6-4, 6-4. 

The Broncs fell in a pair of third-set, 10-point tie-breakers to tighten the match. Vanessa Canda (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic HS) forced a third set at the top flight against Graves, but fell, 7-5, 2-6, 10-7. Binder also fell to Aauyshi Chouhan, 6-2, 3-6, 11-9, at No. 4. 

The Broncs return to action Mar. 22, when they play host to La Salle. First serve is slated for 3 p.m.

Rider University 4, Delaware State University 3

 Singles competition 

1. Graves, Milan (DSU-W) def. Canda, Vanessa (RID-W) 7-5, 2-6, 10-7

2. Melendez, Cyd (RID-W) def. Galieva, Elvira (DSU-W) 6-3, 6-1

3. Rachi, Sofia (DSU-W) def. Scrudato, Danielle (RID-W) 6-3, 6-4

4. Chouhan, Aauyshi (DSU-W) def. Binder, Amanda (RID-W) 6-2, 3-6, 11-9

5. Gardner, Caitlin (RID-W) def. Bessonova, Leza (DSU-W) 6-4, 6-4

6. Swanson, Kelli (RID-W) def. Malagari, Miranda (DSU-W), by default

 Doubles competition 

1. Rachi, Sofia/Galieva, Elvira (DSU-W) def. Canda, Vanessa/Melendez, Cyd (RID-W) 6-4

2. Binder, Amanda/Gardner, Caitlin (RID-W) def. Graves, Milan/Bessonova, Leza (DSU-W) 6-3

3. Swanson, Kelli/Scrudato, Danielle (RID-W) def. Chouhan, Aauyshi/Malagari, Miranda (DSU-W), by default

Match Notes:

Rider University 5-5

Delaware State University 6-1