Spiders Clinch Another 4-3 Win At Xavier

Saturday, February 16

Cincinnati, OH

4:30PM

University of Richmond

Xavier

02/16/2019 | Men's Tennis

CINCINNATI, Ohio. – The University of Richmond men's tennis team picked up its third 4-3 win of the season in a comeback win on the road at Xavier Saturday at the Eastern Hills Indoor Tennis Club.

"That was an unbelievable learning experience for the guys," head coach Houston Barrick said. "Up until this point, we have very much relied on the doubles point. Tonight, we didn't have that luxury and had to find a way to win four singles matches."

The Spiders (5-2) fell behind after dropping the doubles point for just the second time all season. Freshman Josh Keitelman (Chevy Chase, Md.) and junior Matt Fernandez (Richmond, Va.) won 6-2 against Jack Dykema and Brett Winters at No. 1 doubles.

At No. 3 doubles, Xavier's Jan Vrba and Michael Lee defeated sophomore Joe Nardini (Arlington, Va.) and junior Klein Evans (Raleigh, N.C.), 6-4. The Musketeers won the doubles point after Matthew Graft and Connor LaFavre took down junior George Lovitt (Marvin, N.C.) and freshman John Walsh (Bryn Mawr, Pa.), 6-3, at No. 2 doubles.

In singles, the Spiders fell behind 2-0 after Graft won in straight sets against Evans, 6-4, 6-1, at No. 3 singles. Walsh cut the lead to 2-1 with a straight-sets win at No. 5 singles against Vrba, 6-4, 6-3.

At No. 2 singles, Fernandez won against Dykema, 7-6 (5), 6-2. Lovitt picked up a straight-sets win at No. 4 singles against LaFavre, 7-6 (4), 6-2.

Xavier tied the match at 3-3 after Winters won a tough third set match against senior Brice Polender (Lake Bluff, Ill.), 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

In the deciding match, Nardini dropped the first set against Lee, 5-7, but responded by winning the second set 7-5 and won the third set 6-3 to clinch the win for the Spiders at No. 6 singles.

"I am so proud of how Joe competed," Barrick said. "I've been very tough on him and his practice habits throughout this year. I felt like it was time to give him a chance to play in a big match. He stepped up when the team needed him"

Richmond will finish the weekend with a conference match at Dayton on Sunday, Feb. 17, at 11 a.m.

For more information about the Richmond men's tennis team visit RichmondSpiders.com or follow us on twitter at spidermten.

Richmond 4, Xavier 3
Singles
1. Brett Winters (Xavier) def. Brice Polender (UR), 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
2. Matt Fernandez (UR) def. Jack Dykema (Xavier), 7-6 (5), 6-2
3. Matthew Graft (Xavier) def. Klein Evans (UR), 6-4, 6-1
4. George Lovitt (UR) def. Connor LaFavre (Xavier), 7-6 (4), 6-2
5. John Walsh (UR), def. Jan Vrba (Xavier), 6-4, 6-3
6. Joe Nardini (UR) def. Michael Lee (Xavier), 5-7, 7-5, 6-3

Doubles
1. Josh Keitelman/Matt Fernandez (UR) def. Winters/Dykema (Xavier), 6-2
2. Graft/LaFavre (Xavier) def. George Lovitt/John Walsh (UR), 6-3
3. Vrba/Lee (Xavier) def. Joe Nardini/Klein Evans (UR), 6-4

-UR-