CASTLETON, VT. – The Vermont State University Castleton men's tennis team battled hard in a tightly contested non-conference match up but came up just short, falling 5-4 to Norwich University on Wednesday afternoon at the Castleton Tennis Courts. 

The Spartans came out firing in doubles play, taking two of the three matches to grab an early 2-1 lead. Tanner Ciufo and Remy Maynard claimed an 8-5 win at No. 2 doubles, while Trevor Castino and Dylan Shiland followed suit with an 8-5 victory at No. 3. Norwich picked up its lone doubles win at the top spot, where Jaxson Redmond and Terrance Henshaw defeated Miki Almirall and Valero Echegoyen, 8-4. 

In singles action, Echegoyen delivered a commanding 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 4 singles, and Castino added another straight-set victory at No. 5 6-1, 6-4, to keep the Spartans within reach. However, Norwich's depth at the top of the lineup proved to be the difference. Redmond, Henshaw, and Bakke all earned singles wins for the Cadets in the top three spots to complete the comeback. 

Castleton returns to Little East Conference play on Saturday, April 26, when they host Western Connecticut State University at 12 p.m.