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Niki Lavu
Photo by David Sinclair Photography
2
Haverford HAVM (6-8)
5
Winner TCNJ TCNJM (8-4)
Haverford HAVM
(6-8)
2
Final
5
TCNJ TCNJM
(8-4)
Winner

Match Recap: Men's Tennis | | Curran McCauley, Director of Athletic Communications

TCNJ Rallies Past No. 30 Men's Tennis, 5-2

EWING, N.J. – Despite strong performances across the singles lineup, the No. 30 Haverford College men's tennis team dropped a 5-2 decision to host TCNJ on Wednesday afternoon at the TCNJ Tennis Complex. 

The Fords (6-8) found themselves in an early hole during doubles play. The No. 2 pairing of Teo Bortan and Niki Lavu fell quickly in a 6-1 result. While Caden Hsia and Lucio Kombo provided a spark at the No. 3 spot with a convincing 6-3 victory to even the doubles slate, the point was decided at the top flight.  Marko Arboleda and Robbie Vazquez battled but ultimately succumbed to TCNJ's Harrison Maitland-Carter and Asa Wong, 6-4, allowing the Lions to take the initial 1-0 lead heading into singles.

Haverford responded with some immediate pressure as singles play commenced. Niki Lavu was dominant at No. 1 singles, surrendering only one game in a 6-0, 6-1 rout of Alberto Thomas to level the overall match score at 1-1. The momentum seemed to be back on the side of the Fords when Robbie Vazquez secured a straight-sets win at No. 3, defeating Nathan Chan 6-3, 6-2 to put Haverford up 2-1. 

However, the Lions (8-4) proved resilient at home in the remaining matches, winning four consecutive points to close out the afternoon in dramatic fashion. 

At the No. 2 position, Arboleda forced a third set after a strong second-frame showing but fell 6-1, 5-7, 6-3.

The match was then ultimately decided in the bottom half of the ladder, where the Fords pushed TCNJ to the brink. Kombo fought through a grueling three-set marathon at number six, ultimately falling just short in a 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(5) decision to Brett Schuster. Moments later, the match was decided at number five, where Hsia battled back deftly to take a second-set tiebreaker before dropping a hard-fought 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3 result to Aidan Twamley in the eventual clincher. 

In the final match to finish at No. 4, Bortan displayed resolve, taking the second set in a tiebreaker before Faris Shehata escaped with a 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(3) win to provide the final margin at 5-2 in favor of the Lions.

Men's Tennis now returns to action looking to bounce back as the squad continues their spring campaign with a home contest against No. 8 Babson on Saturday, April 4. Action from Haverford is slated to begin at 2 p.m. 
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