RUTLAND, Vt. – The Vermont State University Castleton men's tennis team encountered a tough Rhode Island College squad Saturday, conceding the Little East Conference dual by a score of 9-0.

VTSU Castleton's (4-2, 0-2 LEC) Jason Lipscomb and Khiem Nguyen nabbed two games of their No. 2 tandem clash as Noah Morin/Elijah Gouin pulled away with a point for RIC (5-1, 2-0 LEC). The Anchormen managed to sweep the first and third doubles flights to enter singles play two points away from a clinch.

Nguyen battled well at the top spot against defending all-conference player Morin, but the rookie fell in a pair of 6-2 sets. At the third slot, Lipscomb dropped the opening set by a 6-3 margin before Gouin cruised in the second. RIC's Josh Brien, looking to extend the Anchorman lead, was challenged by Connor Davis in No. 2 singles action as he collected a 6-3, 6-2 triumph.

Christian Giannone and Stanley Andersen forced first-set tiebreakers in their draws at fourth and fifth flight, but were ultimately defeated despite Andersen's narrow 6-4 second-set loss. The Anchormen added a double-bagel victory from Andrew Fanning at the sixth slot to close out a 9-0 team win.

The Spartans continue LEC play next Saturday, April 13 at Salem State. First serve against the Vikings is slated for noon.

RESULTS
Doubles
1. Brien/Cadden (RIC) def. Giannone/Davis (VTSU), 8-0
2. Morin/Gouin (RIC) def. Lipscomb/Nguyen (VTSU), 8-2
3. Siemmao/Fanning (RIC) def. Andersen/Chilkott (VTSU), 8-0

Singles
1. Noah Morin (RIC) def. Khiem Nguyen (VTSU), 6-2, 6-2
2. Josh Brien (RIC) def. Connor Davis (VTSU), 6-3, 6-2
3. Elijah Gouin (RIC) def. Jason Lipscomb (VTSU), 6-3, 6-0
4. Jack Cadden (RIC) def. Christian Giannone (VTSU), 7-6 (7-0), 6-0
5. Zach Siemmao (RIC) def. Stanley Andersen (VTSU), 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
6. Andrew Fanning (RIC) def. Ben Chilkott (VTSU), 6-0, 6-0