Philadelphia, Pa. – (3/15/2019) – The Chestnut Hill College men's and women's tennis teams played their first spring match on their home courts today, Friday, March 15, hosting New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) in an afternoon twin bill. The Griffin men won the first and last completed doubles match to carry the early advantage, but the Bears evened the score with two of the first three singles flights to finish. But back-to-back Scarlet and Gold victories at number five and number four singles - from freshman Kai Adler (Leer, Germany) and junior Erik Jorsal (Mudgeeraba, Australia), respectively - sealed an eventual 5-2 Chestnut Hill College victory.
 
Sophomore Jesus Darias (Bolivar, Venezuela) and Adler won number three doubles by a decisive 6-0 score to give Chestnut Hill College (8-2) the initial edge. But NYIT (3-3) evened the playing field with a 6-4 win in the top team flight. The tiebreaker came soon after and by the same score, but thanks to junior Antoine Gautier (Bordeaux, France) and senior Adam Gavin (Gothenburg, Sweden) it was in the Griffins' favor, 1-0.
 
The Bears quickly tied the score at the start of singles play with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, win at number one singles, 1-1. The Griffins edged again with Gautier's 6-2, 6-2, win at number three singles, 2-1, but NYIT answered with another three-set win (7-6, 4-6, 6-2) at number two singles, 2-2. Adler returned the lead to Chestnut Hill College with his 6-1, 6-2, win at number five singles, 3-2. Minutes later, Jorsal scored the clincher in the fourth solo flight (6-2, 7-5), 4-2. Gavin made the final measure 5-2 with his 6-0, 6-0, win at number six singles.  
 
The Chestnut Hill College men's and women's tennis teams travel together to Loyola University tomorrow, Saturday, March 17, for a 12:00 p.m. dual match.