Stowe, VT - The Vernmont State University Lyndon men's tennis team swept a pair of non-conference matches from in-state rival Vermont State University Johnson on Friday evening. The Hornets improved to 2-1 on the season. The matches were Johnson's season openers.
Match #1 - VTSU Lyndon 8, VTSU Johnson 1
The Hornets took control right from the start, sweeping the three doubles flights. Wesley McIntyre (Troy, NY) and Stephen Wutzl (Brookfield, CT) got Lyndon started with an 8-0 sweep of Johnson's Mohammed Semega and David Heath at second doubles. Minutes later, Jeffrey Blais (Newport, VT) and David Gratton (Newport, VT) polished off Aidance Cheromiah and Jack Senecal, 8-1, at first doubles. James Salvas (Morrisville, VT) and Gilbert Flores (Winsted, CT) completed the doubles sweep with an 8-3 victory over Johnson's Kaitly Stone and Caitlyn Morey.
The Hornets continued to roll in singles, as Blais was a 6-0, 6-0 winner over Cheromiah at number one and McIntyre downed Semega, 6-1, 6-0, at number three to clinch the match for Lyndon. Senecal picked up a retirement win over Gratton at second singles, but Wutzl, Flores, and Salvas were pro set winners at four, five, and six to account for the final margin.
Match #2 - VTSU Lyndon 8, VTSU Johnson 1
Despite some shuffling in both lineups, the nighcap also comfortably belonged to the Hornets. Blais and McIntyre started things with an 8-1 win over Cheromiah and Senecal at first doubles. After Wutzl and Flores rallied for an 8-6 win over Semega and Stone at number two, Heath and Spencer Tergeoglou eeked out an 8-7 (7-4) win over Salvas and Jason Nofskr (Virginia Beach, VA) at third doubles to pull Johnson back within 2-1.
Singles play was all Lyndon, however. Blais again rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 win, this time over Senecal. McIntyre and Semega moved up to the second flight, but the result was an identical 6-1, 6-0 victory for the Lyndon sophomore. Flores then clinched the win for Lyndon with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Stone at thrid singles. Wutzl, Salvas, and Nofsker all won their singles matches to account for the final result.
The Hornets will go on the road on Sunday afternoon for another in-state non-conference matchup. They will face Vermont State University Castleton at 1:00 pm at the Vermont Sport & Fitness Club in Rutland, VT.
