LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Lysander Payano Almonte (New Brunswick, NJ/Colegio Quusquey/Rockland C.C.) won his first two matches with the Broncs, but the Rider University men's tennis team was defeated by Lafayette, 6-1, Thursday afternoon.

"Lysander played a very patient and controlled game," said Rider Head Coach Doug Potkay. "The windy conditions can be tough on big hitters, so he hit heavier top spi to control the ball. Lysander and Javier played well as a doubles team and put pressure on their opponents by attacking the net."
 
Payano Almonte paired with Javier Melendez (Cayey, PR/Colegio La Merced), who also picked up his first Rider victory, to defeat Mason Keel and Andrew Reed, 7-5, at the top doubles flight. But the Leopards took the second and third doubles matches and the doubles point.
 
Payano Almonte then earned a tough-fought 7-6 first set win at No. 2 singles before cruising to a 6-0 second set victory over John Yurconic. Griffin Clark's (Lititz, PA/Manheim Township) No. 6 singles match went to a third set, but he was edged by Matthew DeBenedetto, 10-8.
 
The Broncs return to action Monday, when they play host to St. Francis Brooklyn. First serve is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
Lafayette 6, Rider University 1
 Singles competition
1. Oslan, Blake (LAFA-M) def. Melendez, Javier (RID-M) 6-2, 6-2
2. Payano Almonte, Lysa (RID-M) def. Yurconic, John (LAFA-M) 7-5, 6-1
3. Baldwin, Brandt (LAFA-M) def. Gildea, Brandon (RID-M) 6-3, 6-4
4. Kramer, Daniel (LAFA-M) def. Delgado, Diego (RID-M) 7-5, 6-0
5. Caruso, Paul (LAFA-M) def. Van Herwarde, Jeremy (RID-M) 6-2, 6-0
6. DeBenedetto, Matthew (LAFA-M) def. Clark, Griffin (RID-M) 6-3, 2-6, 10-8
 
 Doubles competition
1. Payano Almonte, Lysa/Melendez, Javier (RID-M) def. Keel, Mason/Reed, Andrew (LAFA-M) 7-5
2. Oslan, Blake/Kramer, Daniel (LAFA-M) def. Van Herwarde, Jeremy/Delgado, Diego (RID-M) 6-2
3. Yurconic, John/Baldwin, Brandt (LAFA-M) def. Gildea, Brandon/Clark, Griffin (RID-M) 6-4
 
Match Notes:
Lafayette 1-0
Rider University 0-1