SALISBURY, Md. - Coach Randy
Halfpap switched things around on Sunday afternoon as
Salisbury University hosted University of Maryland-Eastern Shore
and St. Mary's (Md.) College in a men's tennis doubleheader at the
SU outdoor courts before a crowd of 108. Salisbury (3-0) swept UMES
9-0 while the Sea Gulls opened their Capital Athletic Conference
schedule with an 8-1 win over the Seahawks.
Halfpap used his bench on Sunday, to allow three starters to
rest, and let some younger Sea Gulls gain some valuable game
experience against a CAC team and a Division I program.
Senior Brendan Kincaid and sophomore
Scott Burtzlaff shut out St. Mary's No. 1 doubles
team of Jeremy Butanis and Andrew MacLaughlin, 8-0. Sophomore
Marcus Robinson and freshman Andrew
Nottage moved up to No. 2 doubles against the Seahawks and
won 8-1. Freshmen Glorgio Athans and David
Lupinetti won at No. 3 doubles 8-2 over the SMC duo of Sam
Barton and Tyler Smith.
Kincaid held down the No. 1 singles position and won 6-1, 6-1
over Butanis. Lupinetti stepped into the No. 2 singles position and
won 6-0, 6-0 and Nottage followed at No. 3 singles with the same
result. Athans was also able to post a shutout at No. 5 singles.
Robinson won 6-0, 6-4 at No. 4 singles. The Seahawks lone point
came at No. 6 singles as Brett Hermans defeated freshman Matt
Copeland 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4).
Earlier in the day, Salisbury won easily over an undermanned
UMES team. The team only played two doubles matches and five
singles matches as the Hawks didn't have enough players.
Lupinetti won 6-1, 6-3 over Rashad James at No. 1 singles.
Nottage, Athans and Copeland posted 6-0, 6-0 wins at No. 2, No. 4
and No. 5 singles, respectively. Robinson won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3
singles.
In doubles action, Nottage and Robinson made their No. 1 doubles
debut with an 8-2 win over Dorian Thomas and James. Athans and
Lupinetti won 8-1 at No. 2 doubles. The Hawks had to forefeit at
No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles.
This was Salisbury's 2008 debut outside at home this season.
Salisbury will next be in action on Saturday, March 8, as the
Sea Gulls host Dickinson College in a non-conference 10 a.m. match.
This will be the Sea Gulls' final home match until March 26.
