| Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 SCHENECTADY, NY – The Rider University men's and women's tennis teams opened the 2021-22 season Friday at the Siena Invitational, the two teams' first action under new Head Coach Tom Battaglia.

For the women's team, Capucine Thuilot and Ally Garofoli (Springboro, OH/Springboro) each won at both singles and doubles. Thuilot fell in her first match, before bouncing back in the consolation bracket of Flight A with an 8-2 win over Siena's Nanea Perkins. Garofoli defeated Emma Menkowitz of Lafayette, 8-0, in her lone singles match of Flight D. Thuilot and Garofoli also combined on a 6-3 doubles Flight B win over Colgate's Katerina Atallah and Nicole Condas.

"Great effort today from the women," said Battaglia. "Capucine got her first collegiate wins against Colgate (doubles with Garofoli) and a great singles effort against Siena. Ally partnered with Capucine for the win against Colgate and moved into the semifinals of the C Flight with a nice win against Lafayette. All very competitive. Excited for day two tomorrow for sure. I know everyone is pumped to get back out there."

Nicholas Salazar (Palmetto Bay, FL/Westminster Christian School) came away with the lone win on the men's side, defeating Lafayette's Nash Lovallo, 8-5, in the opening round of Flight C. He then fell in the quarterfinals to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Bryce Burnham, 8-1, in the quarterfinals.

"Our men were very competitive today and fought hard. When we hit the practice court, we have some key adjustments to make that I think will make a huge difference going forward. They have a lot of heard and are very passionate about the game. Their time will come for sure."

Siena Invitational action wraps up tomorrow from Central Park in Schenectady, NY.