A pair of freshman will be playing for hardware Sunday at the Vredevelt Invitational in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The men's tennis team took part in the first day of singles play Saturday at the Sorensen Courts.

Freshman Garrett Gardner (Poland, Ohio/Poland) defeated Xavier's Connor LaFavre 6-3, 6-2 in their first round matchup in Flight F singles play. The newcomer will play for the Flight F championship tomorrow after knocking out Green Bay's Marius Merz 6-1, 6-3.

Meanwhile, fellow rookie Chase Hamilton (Hinsdale, Ill./Central) also scored a win in his first round match in Flight G singles, downing Michigan State's Paul Heeder, 6-2, 6-0. The win advanced Hamilton into the semifinals bracket where Xavier's Freddy Abunku claimed a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 win over the newcomer.

Michael Savaglio (Kenosha, Wis./Mary D. Bradford) dispatched a familiar face in Cleveland State's Ali Shabib. The Crusader junior rallied back after dropping the opening set to claim a 6-7 (7-5), 6-2, 6-2 victory. Savaglio was unable to advance tomorrow's championship match as he was on the wrong end of a 6-3, 6-3 match to Western Michigan's Matt Hamilton.

Sophomore Kyle Dunn (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac) fell 6-2, 6-1 in his first round match in Flight D singles. Dunn was later eliminated following a loss in a tight two-setter to Cleveland State's Colton Buffington 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.

In Flight E singles action, Cleveland State's Manuel Bellutti defeated junior Lucas Waak (Manitowoc, Wis./Roncalli) 6-1, 6-2. Waak then bowed out of the consolation bracket by virtue of a 6-2, 6-4 loss to Xavier's Michael Moe. 

Doubles partners yesterday, but singles foes today, Kevin Goth got the best of Brian Hickey (Western Springs, Ill./Fenwick) 6-4, 6-7 (7-5), 6-4 in Flight F. Hickey then lost in the consolation bracket to Western Michigan’s Marc Shideler 6-7 (11-9), 6-3, 6-4.

Junior Daniel Oakes (Elburn, Ill./Saint Charles North) lost to Cleveland State's Nolan Marks 6-2, 7-5 in their opening match of Flight G singles. Xavier's Brian Carman eliminated Oakes in the consolation bracket via a 6-2, 6-2 result.

The 2014 Vredevelt Invitational concludes Sunday afternoon in Kalamazoo with the final rounds of singles play.