New Windsor, N.Y. – For the second straight match the Fordham men's tennis team found itself in a 3-3 tie with one singles match remaining. Unfortunately, unlike last time, the Rams couldn't pull out the win, falling to Marist College, 4-3, at Sportsplex New Windsor.
 
"Lost a heart breaker last night," said head coach David Slater. "We were tied 3–3 again. He was tough to ask DJ to clinch three matches in a row. The unfortunately lost the deciding match."
 
"Although there's a lot to work on in terms of the tennis, I'm very proud of the commitment in the effort from the whole team, including those that weren't playing but were there to support their teammates."
 
The match opened with the Rams taking the doubles point, winning two of the three doubles matches. Dhananjay Athreya and Filip Horak took second doubles from Marist's Jose Catala and Dante Despontin, 6-1, and Will Lokier and Mateusz Gradzki defeated Gregor Heinemann and Alejandro Abella Fernandez at the third position, 6-2.
 
Fordham picked up wins at first and third singles with Gradzki coming back after dropping the first set at first singles to win the next two over Catala, and Virdee-Oakley defeating Ian Layton in straight sets at the third spot, 6-4, 6-1.

Marist 4, Fordham 3
Sportsplex New Windsor | New Windsor, N.Y.
Friday, February 6, 2026
 
Singles Competition
1. Mateusz Gradzki (FOR) def. Jose Catala (MAR) 0-6, 6-4, 6-3
2. Alejandro Abella Fernandez (MAR) def. Filip Horak (FOR) 6-3, 6-2
3. Dhillon Virdee-Oakley (FOR) def. Ian Layton (MAR) 6-4, 6-1
4. Anirudh Nallaparaju (MAR) def. Will Lokier (FOR) 6-1, 7-5
5. Thomas Bevan (MAR) def. Dhananjay Athreya (FOR) 7-6(3), 6-1
6. Gregor Heinemann (MAR) def. Diego Cueto (FOR) 7-6(11), 6-1
 
Doubles competition
1. Thomas Bevan/Ian Layton (MAR) def. Dhillon Virdee-Oakley/Diego Cueto (FOR) 6-3
2. Dhananjay Athreya/Filip Horak (FOR) def. Jose Catala/Dante Despontin (MAR) 6-1
3. Will Lokier/Mateusz Gradzki (FOR) def. Gregor Heinemann/Alejandro Abella Fernandez (MAR) 6-2

What's Next?
The Rams return to action on Sunday, February 8, as they travel to Newark, N.J. to take on the NJIT Highlanders for a 2:00 p.m. match.