Philadelphia, PA – (3/18/2010) – Inspired by a sixth singles victory from sophomore Adrian Avena (Vineland, N.J.); Chestnut Hill College defeated St. Thomas Aquinas College this afternoon by a 6-3 final. Avena battled from behind to take the opening set of number six singles 7-5, before claiming the match with a 6-1 win in the second set.

Chestnut Hill College (4-4) swept doubles play with decisive victories to grab the Griffins a 3-0 lead heading to singles play. St. Thomas Aquinas College (1-7) nabbed the top three singles flights to make the match interesting. However, a dramatic comeback win from Avena motivated the victory. Riding the Griffin momentum, sophomores Julius Twyman (Coatesville, Pa.) and David Negron (Philadelphia, Pa.) score wins at number four and number five singles, respectively. Twyman took the fourth individual flight in straight sets 6-0, 6-0, while Negron won number five singles 6-4, 6-1.

The men's tennis team welcomes the University of the District of Columbia to campus for their next match, a 12:00 p.m. match on Saturday, March 20.  

Chestnut Hill College 6, St. Thomas Aquinas College 3

 Singles competition

1. Jacques, Nic (STAC) def. BOYLE, Joe (CHCM) 6-2, 6-0

2. Wantzen, Killian (STAC) def. JOSON, Pat (CHCM) 6-2, 6-4

3. Cittadino, Nick (STAC) def. RICHTER, Carson (CHCM) (4-6, 4-4) by default

4. TWYMAN, Julius (CHCM) def. Gonzales, Mel (STAC) 6-0, 6-0

5. NEGRON, David (CHCM) def. Reiter, Ed (STAC) 6-4, 6-1

6. AVENA, Adrian (CHCM) def. Antolini, Mike (STAC) 7-5, 6-1

 Doubles competition

1. BOYLE, Joe/JOSON, Pat (CHCM) def. Cittadino, Nick/Wantzen, Killian (STAC) 8-0

2. RICHTER, Carson/TWYMAN, Julius (CHCM) def. Jacques, Nic/Antolini, Mike (STAC) 8-3

3. NEGRON, David/AVENA, Adrian (CHCM) def. Reiter, Ed/Schuman, Paul (STAC) 8-1

Match Notes:

St. Thomas Aquinas College 1-7

Chestnut Hill College 4-4