PHILADELPHIA - For the first time in over a decade, the Thomas Jefferson University men's tennis team (14-4) is the CACC Champion as the top-seeded Rams defeated second-seeded Chestnut Hill by a 4-2 score in a thrilling conference final on Friday.
 
With the victory, Jefferson also earns an automatic bid in the NCAA Division II Tournament, with regional play beginning on May 9. The full tournament field will be announced on Tuesday, May 3.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The doubles competition set the tone for a tight affair, as two of the matches needed a tiebreak and the third nearly went to a tiebreak as well. The Griffins took the advantage with a close 7-5 victory in third doubles. The first and second flights both went to a tiebreak and points were traded back and forth on neighboring courts. Jefferson had a 6-2 lead in first doubles but Chestnut Hill secured the point by claiming the tiebreak at the second position, 7-5, after erasing a 5-2 deficit in the set.
 
Trailing 1-0, the Rams quickly evened it up after a fast-paced three-set match at first singles. Each player dominated the set they won but it was Jefferson's Hubert Theriault who came out on top, 1-6, 6-0, 6-1.
 
The Griffins regained the advantage shortly thereafter, earning the victory at third singles to go ahead 2-1. Enrique Soto Ballester brought Jefferson level once more with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph at the fifth position. Hannibal Borg pulled out two close set wins at fourth singles, putting the Rams one point away from the title with a 6-4, 7-5 decision.
 
Jefferson nearly ended it with second singles as German Lopez Andujar battled through an injury he suffered in doubles to take a 4-2 advantage in a second-set tiebreak. However, Chestnut Hill fought back and forced a third frame.
 
Jamil Racho was also heading to a third set at the same time in the sixth flight. He dropped the first set and was one point away from trailing 5-3 in the second. The freshman persevered, however, winning three straight games for a 6-4 victory and sending the match to a decisive stanza.
 
While Lopez Andujar labored through a tight third set on court two, Racho dominated his final frame, breaking serve four times and winning 6-1 to give the Rams the title. He won an impressive nine out of 10 games to close the match.
 
DOUBLES RESULTS
1. Tom Pitchley/Joseph Gregory Kvint (CHCM) vs. Hubert Theriault/German Lopez Andujar (JEFFMTEN) 6-6 (2-6), unfinished
2. Noah Cutting/Mark Gladkyy (CHCM) def. Hannibal Borg/E. Soto Ballester (JEFFMTEN) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Domagoj Dugandzic/Joao Sousa (CHCM) def. Odissey Kavak/Mateo Navarro (JEFFMTEN) 7-5
 
SINGLES RESULTS
1. Hubert Theriault (JEFFMTEN) def. Tom Pitchley (CHCM) 1-6, 6-0, 6-1
2. Noah Cutting (CHCM) vs. German Lopez Andujar (JEFFMTEN) 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 2-3, unfinished
3. Joao Sousa (CHCM) def. Mateo Navarro (JEFFMTEN) 6-3, 6-2
4. Hannibal Borg (JEFFMTEN) def. Joseph Gregory Kvint (CHCM) 6-4, 7-5
5. E. Soto Ballester (JEFFMTEN) def. Domagoj Dugandzic (CHCM) 6-4, 6-4
6. Jamil Racho (JEFFMTEN) def. Mark Gladkyy (CHCM) 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-1
 
CACC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
For his incredible championship-clinching comeback, Jamil Racho was selected the CACC Tournament MVP. He was joined on the CACC All-Tournament Team by Hubert Theriault, Hannibal Borg, and Enrique Soto Ballester.
 
CACC TOP XVI AWARD
Jefferson's Odissey Kavak won the CACC Top XVI Award as the student-athlete at the championship site with the highest cumulative GPA.
 
NOTES
- It is the Rams' first CACC title since 2009, the first year that the conference sponsored the sport, and second overall.
- Jefferson will make its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011 and fifth total in program history.
- The Rams now have a 2-3 record in CACC Tournament finals.