PRINCETON, NJ – The Rider University men's tennis team won the MAAC Championship for the first time in program history Sunday afternoon, defeating top-seeded Marist 4-1 to claim the team title. The Broncs will advance to the NCAA Tournament with a record of 12-7, while Red Foxes see their season come to a close at 15-6.
 
The Broncs came out firing to take the doubles point. Heath Paul Waters and Ibragim Turgambekov scored the first victory with a 6-2 win on court two, then Roger Martinez and Axel Engstrom combined for a 6-4 win at number three to stake the Broncs to a lead.
 
The Red Foxes evened the match in singles play with a win at number three, but the Broncs were already eying the lead back. The MAAC Player of the Year and MAAC Tournament MVP, Cole Thurgur, claimed a decisive 6-2, 6-1 win at number one, and Matteus Froberg Dahlin followed shortly after with a 6-1, 6-4 win on court two.
 
Axel Engstrom and Nathan Slattery both won their respective first sets on courts four and five, while Matthew Griscti dropped the opening set on court six. Slattery was the first to fall in set two setting up a decisive third set, then Engstrom fell in a hard-fought second to go to set three as well. Meanwhile, at number six, Griscti was mounting a comeback, taking set two to force all three remaining matches into a third set. It was Slattery who would take control, getting an early break in the fifth set, then leading 3-2, Slattery won the final three games to clinch the championship for the Broncs.
 
Quotes and Notes
"It really started last year, when we lost in the championship. It hit us hard, but the heart that these guys showed was incredible. They used it as motivation for the offseason, worked hard every day, competed out at practice, and that experience was key today. All season, this team got better and better, and even if one guy went down, someone else stepped in, and the depth we have made a big difference today. Winning the doubles point sent a message to Marist that we were here to play and that the moment wasn't too big for us."
 
"When I first took the job, I was told that Rider is a tough place to do it, because we don't have the same resources as some of our opponents, but the people we brought in want to be here, and have bought in to that underdog mentality. I think back to my time as a player and I know my coach would be proud of me standing here as the coach that led this team to a championship." – Head Coach Tim Koch
 
- Cole Thurgur was named MAAC Tournament MVP after winning at number one singles in both the semifinals and finals, moving to 16-0 in dual matches on the season
- The Broncs are now 1-1 all-time in the MAAC Championship final, after falling to Quinnipiac last season in their first-ever appearance in the match.
 
Up Next
The Broncs will find out their opponent in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in a selection show on NCAA.com tomorrow at 4 p.m.