Card Drops Home Opener

STANFORD, Calif. –  In an outdoor dual at Taube Tennis Center, No. 20 Stanford dropped a 20-15 decision to Rutgers on Saturday in its home opener.

Each team won five of the 10 bouts, but Rutgers (3-1) scored bonus points in three of its five wins to capture the dual victory.

Down 11-0, Stanford reeled off four straight wins to take the lead. However, a fall by Rutgers' Brian Soldano, who is ranked 15th nationally, all but sealed up the win. After Cardinal 197-pounder Nick Stemmet's 5-0 decision over Billy Janzer cut the lead to 17-15, Rutgers heavyweight Boone McDermott, ranked No. 32, closed the door on the dual with a 14-9 decision over Seamus O'Malley.

Redshirt junior Jaden Abas, ranked No. 13 at 149 pounds, got the Cardinal on the board with a 3-2 decision over No. 32 Anthony White. Abas moves to 7-1 on the season.

Daniel Cardenas, who entered the rankings this week at No. 22, posted a 17-11 decision over Andrew Clark at 157 pounds. The true freshman has won 10 straight matches to start his Stanford career. 

Ranked second nationally, Shane Griffith dominated in a 9-2 decision over Connor O'Neill at 165 pounds. He remains undefeated at 8-0 this season. 

Stanford 174-pounder Tyler Eischens, who checks in at No. 27, also earned a 9-2 decision over No. 24 Jackson Turley. Eischens improves to 8-1 on the year.

Stanford will resume action on Sunday, Dec. 18 as it hosts No. 13 Virginia Tech and Lindenwood at Burnham Pavilion.
 

Rutgers 20, No. 20 Stanford 15