RUTLAND, Vt. – The Vermont State University Castleton men's tennis team shut out VTSU Johnson, 9-0, at Vermont Sport & Fitness Club on Sunday afternoon, overpowering the Badgers by a total match score of 96-2.

The opening doubles tilt featured newcomer Ben Chilkott and Christian Giannone taking an 8-0 victory at the third flight. Jason Lipscomb/Khiem Nguyen collected a sweep in the No. 2 tandem slot for VTSU Castleton (4-0) as Miki Almirall/Connor Davis finished off the 24-0 doubles blanking in the No. 1 bout.

Davis flew past Gabby Wardwell in No. 3 singles play with a double-bagel while Nguyen did the same at the top flight against Matea Smith. Adiance Cheromiah chipped in the Badgers' (0-3) first game win of the match at the second position, but Almirall sailed to a 6-0, 6-1 result. In fifth-flight action, Giannone dropped David Heath with a pair of 6-0 sets. Chilkott notched his first career individual triumph with a double-bageling of Emily Ward at the sixth slot. Lipscomb and Mohammed Semega engaged in a lengthy battle at flight No. 4, but the Bristol, Conn. native prevailed in 6-1, 6-0 fashion to complete the sweep.

Off to the program's best start since 2017, the Spartans open Little East Conference play on Saturday, March 30 at home against Bridgewater State. First serve is set for 2 p.m.

RESULTS
Doubles
1. Almirall/Davis (Castleton) def. Cheromiah/Smith (Johnson), 8-0
2. Lipscomb/Nguyen (Castleton) def. Ward/Wardwell (Johnson), 8-0
3. Chilkott/Giannone (Castleton) def. Heath/Semega (Johnson), 8-0

Singles
1. Khiem Nguyen (Castleton) def. Matea Smith (Johnson), 6-0, 6-0
2. Miki Almirall (Castleton) def. Adiance Cheromiah (Johnson), 6-0, 6-1
3. Connor Davis (Castleton) def. Gabby Wardwell (Johnson), 6-0, 6-0
4. Jason Lipscomb (Castleton) def. Mohammed Semega (Johnson), 6-1, 6-0
5. Christian Giannone (Castleton) def. David Heath (Johnson), 6-0, 6-0
6. Ben Chilkott (Castleton) def. Emily Ward (Johnson), 6-0, 6-0