LAKELAND, Fla. (March 21, 2025) — Morgan State men's tennis team fell to the Rider University Broncs, 5-2, on Thursday morning. With the win, the Broncs improve to 4-9, while the Bears fall to 3-10.
The doubles portion of the match proved decisive, with two dominant performances securing the crucial point. The duo of Tangri and Froberg Dahlin dismantled Morgan's Niles Rachal and Makkijha Brown in a resounding 6-1 victory at number one doubles. Complementing their teammates' success, Cole Thurgur and Ibragim Turgambekov battled to a hard-fought 6-4 win at the number two spot, overcoming Mikeal Carpenter and Bertin Karenzi. Thurgur and Turgambekov closed out crucial points to secure the overall doubles victory, giving their team a significant advantage heading into the singles matches.
The Broncs secured a decisive 5-2 victory, fueled by strong performances in the singles matches. Leading the charge, Tangri delivered a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory over Carpenter on the premier court. Froberg Dahlin continued the momentum with his own dominant showing, dispatching Brown with a 6-2, 6-2 score on court 2, marking his second win of the day. Dillon further solidified the Broncs' lead, effortlessly defeating Kerouat 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 5 spot. Martinez rounded out the singles victories with a hard-fought win against Ghettas, overcoming a tight first set to ultimately prevail 7-5, 6-1 on court 6. These individual successes combined to propel the Broncs to a well-deserved team victory.
How It Happened
Singles
No. 1 – Dhruv Tangri (RU) d. Mikeal Carpenter (MSU), 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 - Matteus Froberg Dahlin (RU) d. Makkijha Brown (MSU), 6-1, 6-2
No. 3 - Niles Rachal (MSU) d. Nathan Slattery (RU), 6-3, 6-3
No. 4 - Bertin Karenzi (MSU) d. Cole Thurgur (RU), 6-4, 6-3
No. 5 - Cooper Dillon (RU) d. Yessine Kerouat (MSU), 6-0, 6-1
No. 6 - Roger Martinez (RU) d. Mohamed Ridha Ghettas (MSU), 7-5, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 – M. Dahlin/D. Tangri d. M. Brown/N. Rachal 6-1
No. 2 – C. Thurgur/I. Turgambekov d. M. Carpenter/B. Karenzi, 6-4
No. 3 – A. Englestrom/C. Dillon d. Y. Kerouat/M. Abdelwahed, 6-4
NEXT UP: The Bears wrap up their Spring Break trip to Florida Friday, when they play Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) at 11:30 a.m., followed by Lawrence University at 6 p.m.
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
