Villanova, Pa. - (9/18/2017) – For the first time since battling in last spring's National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) East Region Championships, the Chestnut Hill College men's tennis team returned to the courts this past weekend. The Griffins joined rivals from La Salle University, Lafayette College, St. Joseph's University, Loyola University, Wagner College, the University of Delaware, and the hosting Wildcats in the seventh annual Villanova University Invitational. Junior Felix Andre (Berlin, Germany) and sophomore Antoine Gautier (Eysines, France) recorded a third place finish in the paired tournament, defeating duos from St. Joseph's University (3-0 in Round 1) and Wagner College (2-1 in Round 2).
 
Chestnut Hill College got off to a strong start on the first day, Friday, September 15, as seniors Pedro Festugato Regalin (Caxias do Sul, Brazil) and Lucas Bocaletto (Itatiba, Brazil), and the duo of Andre and Gautier both scored 3-0 wins in Round One. Regalin and Bocaletto took their initial doubles match versus Lafayette College by a 6-3 final, then split to win their respective singles matches 6-3, 6-4, and 8-4. Andre and Gautier were just as successful, winning 7-5 as a team before separating for respective 6-0, 4-6, 10-6, and 9-8 (0) singles victories. The Scarlet and Gold's third team, comprised of freshmen Jesus Darias (Bolivar, Venezuela) and David Villarreol (Cochabamba, Bolivia), fell to La Salle University by a 3-0 score. Sophomore Adam Gavin (Gothenburg, Sweden) paired with a Leopard for his first-day competition; he and his partner lost the doubles round 8-4 to their counterparts from Loyola University, but he won his individual flight by an 8-1 mark. In his second match with junior Matthew DiBenedetto (Lewistown, Pa.), Gavin was part of another 2-1 win. They lost the doubles round 8-7 (6), but won as individuals; Gavin took his matchup 8-3.
 
Round Two was also played on the first day of competition. There, Regalin and Bocaletto fell in to Villanova University; they lost both the doubles match and Bocaletto's single flight due to injury, and Regalin's individual bout by an 8-5 spread. Andre and Gautier improved to 2-0 with a 2-1 win over Wagner College. After losing the doubles match, 6-3, the Griffins both won marathon singles flights. Andre won 6-1, 4-6, 10-8, while Gautier pulled through 1-6, 6-2, 13-11. Darias and Villarreol also won 2-1. They won their doubles match versus St. Joseph's University, 6-4, and Darias was victorious in his singles volley 6-1, 3-6, 10-7.

The Scarlet and Gold did not fare as well on Saturday as each Griffin side lost 3-0 to their respective opponents. Andre, scored versus Villanova, 2-6, 6-4, 10-8, Regalin against Wagner College, 2-6, 6-1, 10-8, and Darias in opposition to Loyola University, 3-6, 6-4, 10-8.
 
Felix and Gautier lost their doubles match on the third and final day of play, accepting third place in the tournament after the 6-0 final.
 
The Chestnut Hill College men's tennis team competes next on Wednesday, October 11, when they host Jefferson University.