NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Salisbury University
men's tennis team picked up a big regional win on Thursday
afternoon as the Sea Gulls posted a 6-3 victory over
Christopher Newport University inside Centre Court. This is the
third consecutive win for the Sea Gulls (6-4) who have outscored
their opponents 20-7 during that span.
Salisbury, ranked No. 7 in the Atlantic South region, began the
match up 1-0 after freshman Daniel Barnas and
sophomore Andrew Nottage teamed up to pin an 8-6
decision on Martin Brown and Lorenzo Sison at second doubles. The
next match showcased a pair of doubles teams that were both ranked
in the region. CNU evened the score in the contest as Dusty
Nelson and Eric Shulman, ranked No. 7 in the region, upended SU's
No. 4 regionally ranked junior tandem of Scott
Burtzlaff and Evan Thomas, 8-4. SU went
into singles play with a one-point advantage thanks to its
third doubles team of sophomore Giorgio Athans and
senior Sasha Felikson who won 8-6 over John Braig
and Thomas Whaling.
SU won the first four matches against Christopher Newport (4-8),
ranked No. 9 in the region, to clinch the victory for the maroon
and gold and take a 6-1 lead before first and second singles
finished out in the Captains' favor. Barnas struck first with a
6-1, 6-2 victory over Brown at No. 4 singles and Nottage was quick
to follow suit with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Dylan Young at No. 5
singles. The win proved to be the fifth consecutive victory for
Nottage. Sophomore David Lupinetti tallied a 6-4,
6-4 victory over Nelson at No. 3 singles. Felikson tallied the
final point of the day for the Sea Gulls at No. 6 singles with a
7-6 (7-4), 7-5 victory over Braig. The last two matches would
belong to the Captains as Shulman, ranked seventh in the region for
singles play, won 1-6, 6-3, 10-7 over Burtzlaff at first singles.
CNU's Sison posted a 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 victory over Thomas at second
singles.
The Sea Gulls will begin their Capital Athletic Conference
season this weekend as the Sea Gulls play four conference matches
in two days. The Sea Gulls will travel to Wesley College on
Saturday, March 28, at 10 a.m. then return home that afternoon to
host York (Pa.) College at 2 p.m. On Sunday, the Sea Gulls hit the
road and will face Hood College and Stevenson University at their
respective venues.
