WILDCATS TAME ANCHORMEN, 8-1

Providence, R.I.-In a battle of cross-town rivals, the Rhode Island College men’s tennis team fell to Johnson & Wales, 8-1, in non-conference action played at the RIC Tennis Courts on Thursday afternoon.

JWU (10-4) started out strong at No. 1 doubles, with junior Andre Barbero (Brielle, NJ) and junior Nicholas Auffret (Holtsville, NY) besting the RIC (2-8) duo of sophomore Brett Taggart (North Kingstown, RI) and sophomore Lee Tiberi (Smithfield, RI), 8-0.

Freshmen Matt Gambardella and Alan Esposito

JWU also earned the victory at No. 2 doubles with senior Jason Chavenson (Upper Dublin, PA) and sophomore Taylor Farmer (Carmel, IN) knocking off the RIC pairing of freshmen Alan Esposito (Clinton, CT) and Matthew Gambardella (West Warwick, RI), 8-0.

JWU completed the doubles sweep with graduate student Jorge Mancebo (Santiago, Dominican Republic) and senior Tristan Edovas (Mystic, CT) defeating the RIC duo of senior Cory Duquette (Warwick, RI) and freshman Chandler Scott (Ashaway, RI), 8-4.

Barbero beat Taggart (6-1, 6-0) at No. 1 singles, with Farmer besting Tiberi (6-0, 6-2) at the No. 2 slot.

Chavenson defeated Esposito (6-0, 6-2) at No. 3 singles, while Scott fell to Mancebo (6-3, 6-3) at No 4 singles.

Sophomore Ryan Schiele (Lusby, MD) bested Duquette (6-3, 6-1) at No. 5 singles with RIC salvaging a point at No. 6 singles when Gambardella topped freshman Tyler Dupee (Middletown, NY) (7-5, 6-2).

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will resume Little East Conference action at Salem State on Saturday, April 16 (1 p.m.).