PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J. — In the program's second official match since its return, the New Jersey City University men's tennis team has accomplished what no other New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) program has been able to do since the NJAC first began sponsoring men's tennis — defeat defending champion The College of New Jersey. Despite falling behind 2-1 in doubles play on Saturday, April 10, to the Lions, the Gothic Knights stormed back in singles play to take four of six matches for the 5-4 win at the Mercer County Tennis Center.

In doubles play, the Lions (3-1, 0-1 NJAC) took the early 2-0 lead over NJCU (2-0, 2-0 NJAC) after winning at third doubles, 8-3, and first doubles, 8-4. However, the freshman duo of Nico Teynie (Rouen, France/Lycée Val de Seine) and Toni Cabot (Palma, Spain/IES Albuhaira) was able to persevere at second doubles to trim the TCNJ lead in half at 2-1.

Once singles play began, the Lions won the first match at sixth singles to take a 3-1 lead. TCNJ then won at third singles to take a commanding 4-1 lead and needed just one more victory to clinch the match.

Freshman Alejandro Ley (Las Palmas, Spain/I.E.S. Politécnico) began the comeback at fifth singles by winning in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. Next to finish was junior Theo Bourghelle (Lesquin, France/LaSalle Lille), who won his match at first singles in two sets (7-6, 6-1), including a hard fought 11-point tiebreaker in the first set — NJCU now trailed just 4-3. Cabot continued his strong play from doubles in his fourth singles match next, winning in three sets (6-7, 6-2, 6-4). Then, with the match on the line for both squads — tied at 4-4 — Teynie came through. After dropping the first set at second singles via a 12-point tiebreak, he stormed back to win the second and third sets to win his match (6-7, 6-3, 6-2) and clinch the victory over the Lions for his squad.

What's Next
NJCU returns to the court this Wednesday afternoon, April 14, in Mahwah, N.J. for a 4:00 p.m. clash with Ramapo University.