VESTAL – Norwich lost just its second match of the season in a battle with Class AA Vestal.
The Purple Tornado points were scored by Matt Giglio at fourth singles, Austin Benenati and Nathan Christopherson at first doubles, and Carson Maynard and Zac Marsh at second doubles.
Giglio gave up his first set of the season, losing the second of three with a score of 6-1. He rebounded to easily take the third set and the point for the Tornado. Giglio remains unbeaten on the season.
Needing a tiebreaker to determine the winner of the first set, Maynard and Marsh finished off Vestal’s Ash Ashok and Isaac Weissmann 8-6 to capture the set. The two went on to win the match with 6-3 second victory, holding onto the their undefeated record.
Winning in straight sets of 6-1 scores, Benenati and Christopherson also kept the perfect match record intact, downing the Golden Bears top duo of Joe Mangiacapra and Taras Boyko.
“Those 2 teams just keep getting better,” said Norwich head coach John Stewart. “The better the competition, the better they play. It was excellent play from both the base line and the net.”
Josiah Shaver, the Tornado’s top man in singles, gave a strong effort in his match against Lucus Niermeyer but the Golden Bear was able to hold off in straight sets, winning 6-3 and 6-4.
Doubles partners Jahlil Jones and Jona gave Vestal a good run at the second set but held us off to close the match off.
Norwich returns to court when they host Lansing on Friday. Match is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start time.
Vestal 4, Norwich 3
Singles: Lucas Niermeyer (V) def. Josiah Shaver 6-3, 6-4; Justin Barnes (V) def. Zayne Harper 6-1, 6-2; Jacob Pompeii (V) def. Joel Fazio 6-1, 6-2; Matt Giglio (N) def. Saavan Kaneria 6-2, 1-6, 6-2.
Doubles: Austin Benenati/Nathan Christopherson (N) def. Joe Mangiacapra/Taras Boyko 6-1, 6-1; Carson Maynard/Zac Marsh (N) def. Ash Ashok/Isaac Weissmann 7-6, (8-6), 6-3; Vincent Dieffenbaugher/Joshua Lee (V) def. Jonathan Ryan/Jahlil Jones 6-2, 6-4.