NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Castleton men's tennis team suffered its first loss of the 2023 season, narrowly falling to Norwich, 5-4, Thursday afternoon.

The Spartans (3-1) got a doubles set win from Connor Davis/Jason Lipscomb who posted an 8-2 rout of Molly Twombly/Matthias Tchantouridze at the second flight. However, the Cadets (2-3) claimed victories at the first and second spots to lead 2-1 going into singles play.

At flight No. 6, Andy Phelan scored his fourth consecutive singles victory with a straight-set defeat of Bennet Oakes. Lipscomb collected a flight-four win, knocking off Twombly by set scores of 6-4, 6-1. Davis and Stanley Andersen dropped matches in the third and fifth slots while the top two flights needed another set. After falling 6-1 in the second set, Phil Kluge put away Sebastian Mucha with a 6-4 third stanza at the second spot. In a gritty match with Sebastian's twin brother at the top flight, Miki Almirall was edged 6-4 in the final set by Dimitry Mucha.

Castleton begins Little East Conference action on Saturday, March 25 as they host Western Connecticut State. First serve at Vermont Sport & Fitness Club is set for 2 p.m.

RESULTS
Doubles
1. D. Mucha/S. Mucha (NU) def. Almirall/Kluge (CU), 8-5
2. Davis/Lipscomb (CU) def. Twombly/Tchantouridze (NU), 8-2
3. Oakes/Nandawula (NU) def. Andersen/Phelan (CU), 8-6

Singles
1. Dimitry Mucha (NU) def. Miki Almirall (CU), 7-5, 1-6, 6-4
2. Phil Kluge (CU) def. Sebastian Mucha (NU), 6-4, 1-6, 6-4
3. Matthias Tchantouridze (NU) def. Connor Davis (CU), 6-4, 6-2
4. Jason Lipscomb (CU) def. Molly Twombly (NU), 6-4, 6-1
5. Assumpta Nandawula (NU) def. Stanley Andersen (CU), 6-1, 6-4
6. Andy Phelan (CU) def. Bennet Oakes (NU), 6-4, 6-3