LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Griffin Clark (Lititz, PA/Manheim Township) forced a third set in his No. 4 singles match, but La Salle cruised to a 7-0 sweep of the Rider University men's tennis team Tuesday afternoon. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 0-9, while the Explorers are now 5-14.

Playing with just five players, the Broncs quickly dropped the doubles point, defaulting at No. 3, while the Explorers took Nos. 1 and 2 by 6-1 and 6-0 scores, respectively.

"We battled today against a better team and saw improvement in how they moved the opponent around and changed pace, constructing a point," said Rider Head Coach Doug Potkay.

The Broncs were competitive at several spots in the five flights that were contested in singles, including Clark's 7-5 win in the middle set at No. 4 against Tomas Christian. But Christian took the match with 6-0 victories in the first and third sets. After falling, 6-0, in the first set at No. 2 to Connor Merrill, Javier Melendez (Cayey, PR/Colegio La Merced) pushed Merrill to a 6-4 second-set loss.

Lysander Payano Almonte (New Brunswick, NJ/Colegio Quusquey/Rockland C.C.) pushed Rogelio Gonzalez from the start at No. 3, but fell, 6-4, 6-2. Playing his first match at No. 1, Diego Delgado (Lara, Venezuela/Colegio Rioclaro) fell to Francesco Mowrey, 6-1, 6-3, while Brian Villarreal (Roselle Park, NJ/Roselle Park) fell to Andrija Bozovic, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 5.

The Broncs return to action Saturday, when they play host to Saint Joseph's at 1 p.m.
 
La Salle 7, Rider University 0
 
 Singles competition
1. Mowrey, Francesco (LASALLEM) def. Delgado, Diego (RID-M) 6-1, 6-3
2. Merrill, Connor (LASALLEM) def. Melendez, Javier (RID-M) 6-0, 6-4
3. Gonzalez, Rogelio (LASALLEM) def. Payano Almonte, Lysa (RID-M) 6-4, 6-2
4. Christian, Tomas (LASALLEM) def. Clark, Griffin (RID-M) 6-0, 5-7, 6-0
5. Bozovic, Andrija (LASALLEM) def. Villareal, Brian (RID-M) 6-2, 6-2
6. Lucius, Colin (LASALLEM) def. No player (RID-M), by default
 
 Doubles competition
1. Mowrey, Francesco/Christian, Tomas (LASALLEM) def. Melendez, Javier/Delgado, Diego (RID-M) 6-1
2. Pascual, Patrick/DiOrio, Joe (LASALLEM) def. Payano Almonte, Lysa/Clark, Griffin (RID-M) 6-0
3. Merrill, Connor/Gonzalez, Rogelio (LASALLEM) def. No player/No player (RID-M), by default
 
Match Notes:
La Salle 5-14
Rider University 0-9