Kohler and Gautier Return to CACC Men’s Tennis Weekly Report
New Haven, Conn. - (3/14/2017) – A grueling early-spring schedule placed the Chestnut Hill College men’s tennis team opposite a trio of Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) top-50 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Teams, including; #40 Florida Southern College, #33 Grand Valley State University (GVSU), and #42 Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). The Griffins went 0-3 on the trip, but for their role in the Scarlet and Gold effort, freshman Pierre Kohler (Les Sables d'Olonne, France) and freshman Antoine Gautier (Eysines, France) both appeared on the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Men’s Tennis Weekly Report; the former as the league’s Player of the Week and the latter on the Honor Roll.
The first of three matches in Florida for the Chestnut Hill College men's tennis team, Wednesday's competition sent the Griffins to Lakeland for a match against #40 Florida Southern College. With wins at number one doubles, 8-5, and number two doubles, 9-8 (4), the Griffins controlled a 2-1 lead over the Moccasins heading to singles. Unfortunately, the home team won all the individual flights, sweeping the one-on-one competition for a decisive 7-2 win. Kohler and senior Jonathan Ducretot (Antibes, France) teamed for an 8-5 win at number one doubles, but both he (6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 10-8) and Gautier (6-2, 6-1) lost in singles play.
Another ranked opponent awaited Chestnut Hill College on Thursday morning at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Campus in Orlando, Florida. There, a highly-competitive match against #33 GVSU came down to the wire, as Gautier battled freshman Jack Geissler (Joilett, Ill.) for the balance of the affair at number four singles. Unfortunately, the Lakers came away with a 5-4 win after Geissler rallied over Gautier; 5-7, 6-0, 10-6. Meanwhile, Kohler contributed to Scarlet and Gold points at number one doubles (9-8) and number two singles (6-3, 6-3).
The daunting slate continued on Friday, March 10, with a late-morning match at #42 Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). The Panthers won the first two points of the match and stayed a step ahead of the Griffins in singles play for an eventual 5-4 win as Ducretot and Regalin won respective post-clinching points at number five, 6-4, 6-3, and number six, 6-3, 6-3, singles. Gautier and sophomore Felix Andre (Berlin, Germany) got Chestnut Hill College (3-4) on the scoreboard with their dramatic 9-8 (6) triumph at number three doubles, 2-1.
The Chestnut Hill College men’s tennis team returns home to prepare for a 12:00 p.m. match at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) on Friday, March 17.
