EWING, N.J. – The TCNJ men's tennis team took the first of two steps toward another WIAC East title with a 7-0 sweep of visiting Oneonta on Friday afternoon.
The Lions (13-4, 1-0), who won their eighth straight dual match, can notch their third straight East Division crown with a win over Rutgers-Camden tomorrow.
Amidst the pedestrian rout were some important milestones.
Asa Wong, who teamed with
Harrison Maitland-Carter for a 6-4 victory at number one doubles, became the 24
th player in program history to reach 50 career doubles victories. The senior doubles specialist joins his partner Maitland-Carter and
Alberto Thomas as active Lions on that list.
Thomas, for his part, became the 17
th player in team history to attain 50 career singles victories with a 7-6 (4), 6-2 defeat of Chris Chippari in the top flight. The senior also paired with
Nathan Chan for a 6-1 win over Jaden Ritterman and Peter Pitaleff at number two doubles. That victory came just before
Sidd Arudi and
Faris Shehata rolled past Amine Abidi and Ryan Geller by the same lopsided score at number three to clinch the doubles point.
The back half of the singles lineup put the match away for the Lions.
Brett Schuster was a 6-1, 6-1 winner over Nate Inzerillo at number six, and
Aidan Twamley cruised past Geller 6-0, 6-2 at number five before Shehata provided the knockout blow with a 6-3, 6-1 defeat of Pitaleff at number four.
All that was left was to pursue the sweep, and TCNJ did just that. Maitland-Carter was next off the court with a 6-4, 6-2 win over William Schmid at number two.
Chan scored a 6-2, 6-2 triumph against Ritterman at number three before Thomas closed it out on the top court.
NOTES
- Thomas ran his career combined win total to 115, tied with G.J. Homefield (1993-97) for 11th all-time. The senior can join the top-10 with two more victories against Camden on Saturday
- Maitland-Carter pulled into a tie with Jack August '17 for 9th on the all-time charts with his 58th career singles win; with two wins on Saturday, he would tie Pierce Cooper '16 for 5th in career combined wins (133)
- TCNJ is 9-0 all-time against Oneonta, with eight of those wins coming via sweep
UP NEXT
- The Lions look to clinch another trip to the WIAC Championship with a win over Rutgers-Camden at 12:30 p.m. Saturday
