By: Isabel Smith ~Staff Writer~
Xavier Tennis wrapped up a busy weekend of fall play. The men’s team traveled to Kentucky to compete in the Louisville Fall Invitational, while the women’s team traveled to its crosstown rival’s campus for the Cincinnati Invitational.
The Musketeers demonstrated solid play on day one of the Louisville Fall Invitational.
Junior Gabriel Araujo and redshirt senior Matt Bishop took Dayton to a tie-breaker match in doubles before falling 8-7. Senior Jeremy Schneider and sophomore Jack Dykema both advanced to the quarterfinals of their draws in singles play.
Xavier wrapped up play in Louisville on Sunday. Freshman Matthew Graft had a standout performance as a consolation champion in singles play. He beat Matthew Momper of Bellarmine in one match and defeated Johan Fuzellier of Campbellsville in two matches. Bishop, redshirt freshman Nick Werner and sophomore Trent Smith won their matches in singles play against Louisville, Wright State and Illinois State, respectively.
In day one of the Cincinnati Invitational, Xavier came out on top in singles matches against Dayton, winning four of seven.
Senior Cristina Di Lorenzo, junior Lauren Ghidotti, freshman Rachael Reichenbach and sophomore Sophia Abelson all defeated their opponents. Ball State proved to be a challenge for the Musketeers in doubles play, but Di Lorenzo and Ghidotti were able to win against a pair of Cardinals.
The Musketeers were able to end the Cincinnati Invitational on a high note. On Saturday, Xavier went 2-1 against the Flyers in doubles play and 3-3 against the Bearcats.
The doubles victories came from Di Lorenzo and Ghidotti and sophomore Zoe Manion and Abelson. Ghidotti had another win against Cincinnati, while freshman Vanina Iordanova and Manion captured singles wins against the Bearcats. Di Lorenzo rounded out the wins with a victory in singles play against Ball State in three sets.
Senior Sydney Liggins didn’t compete in the Cincinnati Inviational with the rest of her team. Liggins was selected to play at the ITA Masters Tournament in Malibu, Calif., where she made it to consolation semifinals.
The Musketeers return to action in Tennessee on Oct. 19. The men’s team heads to the University of Tennessee, and the women’s team heads to Middle Tennessee for the ITA Regional.