Staten Island, NY – The Wagner College men's tennis team earned a thrilling 4-3 victory over visiting Norfolk State on Saturday night, showcasing their resilience and depth in a hard-fought match.

The Seahawks started strong by continuing their impressive doubles performance. Graduate Carlos Rodriguez and Gabriele Zugarelli dominated at the #1 spot, winning 6-2, while freshmen Joshua Zhao and Damian Janiszewski clinched the doubles point after a dramatic comeback. Down 2-5, they rallied to win 7-6 (9), securing the point for Wagner.

In singles play, the teams split 3-3, with the Spartans taking straight-set victories at #2 and #4. Freshman Damian Janiszewski showed strong fight at #3, winning the first set, but ultimately fell in a back-and-forth match, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 3-6.

Rodriguez stepped up at #1, leading Wagner with a 6-4, 6-2 victory that gave the Seahawks a 2-0 lead. Freshman Vibhu Challagundla also contributed with a dominant performance at #5, winning 6-2, 6-4, which extended Wagner's lead to 3-1.

With the overall match tied at 3-3, Zhao stepped up for the clinching win. In a tense match, he defeated his opponent 6-4, 7-6 (4), sending the home crowd into a frenzy and securing the victory for the Seahawks.

"We were a resilient group tonight facing a tough opponent," said Wagner Tennis Head Coach Jeff Menaker. "We won this match with our depth. We're missing some starters, but Vibhu and Josh were unbelievably clutch and confident in their matches. I was very proud of all three of our freshmen who played today."

The Seahawks will look to build on their success as they face Villanova on Sunday in Bryn Mawr, PA, with a 5:30 p.m. first serve.