Philadelphia, Pa. - (4/25/2020) – Chestnut Hill College finished the 2019-2020 season with a 3-3 standing that included Scarlet and Gold victories over Kutztown University (W, 7-0 on September 23), Bloomsburg University (W, 7-0 on September 29), and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) (W, 4-2 on March 9). On April 15, Oracle and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) provided some solace to the Griffins' muted season with sophomore Tom Pitchley (London, England) (#14 Singles/#3 Doubles), junior Kiki Dagneaux (Saint-Gervasy, France) (#17 Singles), and junior Erik Jorsal (Mudgeeraba, Australia) (#3 Doubles) earning East Regional Rankings.
Pitchley opened his sophomore season with wins against Kutztown University (7-6, 6-4 (7-3) @ #1) and Bloomsburg University (4-6, 6-1, 10-5 @ #1) before finishing year with a 3-3 record at number one singles. Dagneaux was 2-4 at number two singles; he joined Pitchley with wins over his Kutztown University (W, 6-2, 7-5) and Bloomsburg University (W, 6-3, 6-1) counterparts. In doubles, Pitchley and Jorsal sported a 3-2 record in the top flight. They were victorious in all three Griffin victories, scoring a tight 7-6 (1) victory over the Golden Bears' top duo before recording subsequent wins versus the Huskies (W, 6-2) and Firebirds (W, 6-3). But in the end, it was the top-flight play of senior captain Antoine Gautier (Bordeaux, France) that powered Chestnut Hill College to their 3-3 standing with matching 5-1 records at number three singles and number two doubles. He recorded the 100th win of his collegiate career with the clinching point of the Griffins' victory over the Huskies and his brilliant spring play earned him a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Men's Tennis Weekly Honor Roll appearance on March 9 and a CACC Men's Tennis Player of the Week award on March 16.
For Chestnut Hill College, the 2019-2020 season started on September 13 with a trip to the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for the USTA/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) East Regional Championships. Pitchley scored a pair of individual wins in the Men's Singles Bracket but found a longer run in the Men's Doubles Bracket, where he and Jorsal rattled off three victories before making a semifinal exit on an 8-4 loss to their Concordia College (NY) counterparts.
As the Scarlet and Gold's schedule moved to match play, the Griffins enjoyed back-to-back shutouts in home matches against Kutztown University (W, 7-0 on September 23) and Bloomsburg University (W, 7-0 on September 29). The latter date included Gautier's milestone and served as a Senior Day for the Griffins, who recognized the collegiate career of Adam Gavin (Gothenburg, Sweden) prior to the start of competition.
In 2020, Chestnut Hill College opened a highly competitive schedule with engagements against the University of Delaware (L, 1-6 on January 26), St. Thomas Aquinas College (STAC) (L, 1-6 on March 5), Queens College (L, 2-5 on March 6), and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) (W, 4-2 on March 9). Unfortunately, the first three went in the opponents favor with a CACC Weekly Honor Roll (February 17) mention for sophomore Kai Adler (Leer, Germany) serving as the only highlight.
On March 9, back-to-back wins from Pitchley/Jorsal (6-3 @ #1) and Gautier/Dagneaux (7-6 (7-2) @ #2) earned the Griffins the doubles point. But, a double default at number six singles and two Firebird wins later the Scarlet and Gold needed a 6-0, 6-0, number five singles win from Adler, a 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, number three singles win from Gautier, and a 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, number four singles from Jorsal to win the match; 4-2.
