WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Dhruv Tangri (Punjab, India/Cambridge International School), Nathan Slattery (Nenagh, Ireland) and Jake Grimes (Atlanta, GA/Johnson Ferry Christian Academy) all won at both singles and doubles as the Rider University men's tennis team defeated Lafayette, 6-1, Wednesday. The win came following a 7-0 loss to Monmouth. With the split, the Broncs open dual play at 1-1, while the Leopards are now 0-1 and the Hawks improved to 1-0.

In the opener against Monmouth, the Hawks swept all six singles flights and both doubles matches that were completed. Jonathan Arbittier (Mendham, NJ/Dallastown Area) played the Broncs most competitive singles match, but fell to Christof Zeiler, 6-2, 6-3, at No. 6. In doubles, Elyad Oshnavie (Asker, Norway/Asker) and Lucas Flotta (Belle Mead, NJ/The Pennington School) were trailing, 5-3, at No. 3 doubles in the closest doubles match when it was halted.

"Monmouth took it to us in the first match," said Rider Head Coach Tom Battaglia. "Relentless pressure. Always felt like they took ground on us and smothered us during big points. Never really got our footing as they kept the guys uncomfortable."

Against Lafayette, Tangri and Cooper Dillon (Brisbane, Australia/Laurel Springs) took a 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles over Arman Ganchi and Jake Magnusson, while Grimes and Slattery got past Davis Esslinger and Ryan Burns, 6-2, at No. 3 to take the doubles point. No. 2 doubles went unfinished as Rider's Stavros Hadjivarnava (Moutagiaka, Cyrus/British College of Gava) and Roger Martinez (Girona, Spain/Saint George's School) were tied, 4-4, with Lafayette's Nick McKenzie and Sam Gelber at No. 2 when doubles was halted.

In singles, Tangri defeated McKenzie, 7-6, 6-2, at No. 1, while Slattery got past Magnusson, 6-3, 5-7, 10-5, at No. 2. Hadjivarnava took a 6-3, 6-1, win over Esslinger at No. 4, while Martinez defeated Burns, 4-6, 6-3, 10-2, at No. 5. Grimes rounded out the singles wins with a 6-4, 4-6, 10-6, victory at No. 6.

"Second match was a different story," said Battaglia. "Guys came out strong in doubles and set the tone. Credit to Lafayette as they really made us earn the win. They pushed us to three tiebreakers. Magnusson at 2^nd singles fought back from 5-2 in the second to force a tiebreak as well. We were tough mentally in the tiebreakers. Made great decisions and stepped in when opportunity presented itself."

The Broncs return to action this weekend, when the team splits up to take part in both the Wagner Clay Court Invitational and the Lehigh Hidden Duals.