WEST POINT, New York – The Marist men's tennis team came away with their most exciting win of the year thus far, defeating Army West Point, 4-3, at the Lichtenberg Tennis Center in West Point, New York. After comeback wins at the second doubles spot and battling back from a 3-1 match deficit, the Red Foxes truly earned the victory that would improve them to 9-3 on the season.
“This is what coaches coach for, I have said in the past this is a gladiatorial sport,” said head coach Tim Smith. “Down 3-1 in matches, three gladiators in Kurz, Chanthalangsy and Fletcher battled like junkyard dogs and a couple of points either way would have allowed either team to win.”
The Red Foxes took the doubles point with three straight wins. Joe Motta and Fredrik Bjerke won their match from the first doubles position, defeating the Black Knight's Harrison McCormick and Grant Reichmann, 6-3.
“This is probably one of my proudest victories by the way our guys handled themselves and competed,” said Smith. “Joe and Fredrik showed up and played one of the best sets I've seen them play in three years.”
Rudolf Kurz and Dylan Fletcher, after being down 5-2, then won their match against Kyle Barnes and David Mitchell, 7-5 before Justin Chanthalangsy and Paulo Siracusa won their match over Sam Lampman and Michael Nguyen, 7-6.
Max Darrington and Carlos Moreno defeated Army's Morgan Hale and Cameron Vogt in an exhibition match, 7-6 (7-5).
Resiliently, Army bounced back, winning the first three singles matches to take a 3-1 lead. Army's David Mitchell defeated Bjerke, 6-0, 7-5, Michael Nguyen defeated Timo Tanzer, 6-2, 6-3, and Jan Dernic lost a tough three set match to Kyle Barnes, 1-6, 6-3, 6-0.
The Red Foxes found themselves needing to win all three of the remaining matches on the court to claim victory. Chanthalangsy pulled the overall match deficit back to one after he defeated Grant Reichmann, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, from the second singles position in a grueling three set match.
Kurz then gutted out a clutch win at first singles to knot the score at 3-3 after a thrilling three set, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, victory over Army's Sam Lampman.
In the last match on the court both teams rallied around the remaining players for an exciting ending. In the final three set showdown, Dlyan Fletcher clinched the match for the Red Foxes as he defeated Harrison McCormick, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.
Up next the Red Foxes will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday, April 9th with a match against Niagara at 7:30 p.m. at Cross Court Tennis.
Full Results
Doubles
1. Joe Motta/Fredrik Bjerke (MARM) def. Harrison McCormick/Grant Reichmann (ARMY) 6-3
2. Rudolf Kurz/Dylan Fletcher (MARM) def. Kyle Barnes/David Mitchell (ARMY) 7-5
3. Justin Chanthalangsy/Paulo Siracusa (MARM) def. Sam Lampman/Michael Nguyen (ARMY) 7-6 (10-8)
Singles
1. Rudolf Kurz (MARM) def. Sam Lampman (ARMY) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
2. Justin Chanthalangsy (MARM) def. Grant Reichmann (ARMY) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
3. David Mitchell (ARMY) def. Fredrik Bjerke (MARM) 6-0, 7-5
4. Michael Nguyen (ARMY) def. Timo Tanzer (MARM) 6-2, 6-3
5. Kyle Barnes (ARMY) def. Jan Dernic (MARM) 1-6, 6-3, 6-0
6. Dylan Fletcher (MARM) def. Harrison McCormick (ARMY) 4-6, 7-6 (6-3), 6-4
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,5,4,2,1,6)
