Bulldogs battle hard, fall to Dartmouth, 6-1, and Indiana, 4-0

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's tennis team held their own against two top-75 teams over the weekend, but ultimately fell, 6-1, to Dartmouth and, 4-0, to Indiana.

"The weekend featured two premier teams," said head coach Ron Gendron. "We competed very well against two great programs." 

The Big Green (1-1) was the first of three Ivy League competitors the Bulldogs (1-2) will face in January. Dartmouth began with a 1-0 edge after capturing the doubles point, sweeping in all three matches. Matt Kuhar (Smithfield, R.I.) and partner Jorge Ortiz-Garcia (Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico) fought hard to a 7-6 (10-8) loss at No. 1 doubles.

Kuhar also performed well in singles play, battling Ciro Riccardi in three games, before falling, 6-4, 3-6, 10-8. In similar fashion, Ortiz-Garcia forced George Wall into three games after winning the first, 7-6, but the junior was ultimately defeated in the final two games, 6-3, 10-7. Luke Lorenz (Colorado Springs, Colo.) had an impressive showing at the No. 3 slot, defeating David Horneffer, 7-6, 7-5.

"We pushed Dartmouth in several spots and had chances," said Gendron. "Luke played a brilliant match as he continues to develop as a threat at the top of the lineup."

The Bulldogs then squared off against Indiana at Dartmouth, falling, 4-0, after three matches went unfinished. The Hoosiers (2-0) swept the doubles point, despite Michael Plutt (Weston, Fla.) and Nick Lamart's (Raleigh, N.C.) hard fought battle at No. 2 doubles that ended, 7-5.

Kuhar was trailing Antonio Cembellin, 6-4, 3-1, before the No. 1 singles match went unfinished. Plutt and Guido Argentini (Raton, Fla.) had their matches go unfinished, as Argentini was behind Oliver Sec, 6-5, at No. 3 singles and Plutt down, 7-6, at the No. 4 spot.

Indiana defeated the Bulldogs at No. 2, 5 and 6 singles slots, including, 6-0, 6-1, wins over freshman Jorge Isaias Ortiz-Garcia (Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico) and Andrew Quiros (Pembroke Pines, Fla.).

"Indiana allowed us to test our freshmen class and reintroduce Mike Plutt and Nick Lamart into our lineup," said Gendron. "Mike, Nick and Guido all looked like they are ready to compete at the highest level in college tennis."

"We are still figuring out who we are, but our options are ever increasing. This is clearly the strongest team I have ever coached. The next several years look very promising."

Next up for the Bulldogs are road matches against Harvard and Brown, and Gendron says the Bulldogs are "looking forward to another challenging weekend."