ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – The Salisbury University women's tennis team clinched the No. 2 seed, and a first-round bye, in the upcoming Capital Athletic Conference tournament with a 9-0 win at St. Mary's (Md.) College, while the men's team fell in a near five-hour thriller, 5-4, on Friday.
Salisbury's top two doubles teams of junior Jillian Poppe/freshman Roxanne Alban and junior Elaina Iosue/freshman Katie Youlios each picked up 8-0 wins while junior Victoria Handlin and freshman Allison Lutz combined for an 8-6 win at No. 3.
Lutz collected a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles while Alban, at No. 2, and Youlios, at No. 3, each won 6-0, 6-1. Handlin surrendered just three games to her opponent at No. 4 while Poppe won her opening set 6-0, before holding on for a 7-5 win at the top spot. Sophomore Charlotte Urian earned a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 6 singles as Salisbury finished off the 9-0 win.
The Sea Gulls (9-7, 6-1 CAC) will be the No. 2 seed in the CAC women's tennis tournament, earning a bye through the opening round. Salisbury will host a semifinal match on Monday, April 23, against the winner of the first-round match between the No. 3 and No. 6 seeds.
The men's team picked up one of the three doubles matches to open its contest. After the Seahawks (16-3, 5-1 CAC) picked up the No. 3 match, Salisbury's top pair of senior Daniel Barnas and freshman Daniel Albers won their 10th consecutive match, 8-3.
Barnas dropped the No. 1 singles match, before Albers picked up a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 win at No. 2 singles and junior Adam Goldberger won 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 at No. 3 to tie the match, 3-3.
Freshman Nick Mancuso fell in a three-set battle at No. 4 singles, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, allowing the Seahawks to take a 4-3 lead. Sophomore Demetri Vrahnos dropped a 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) decision at No. 6, as St. Mary's claimed the win.
Senior Justin Smith took the No. 5 singles match, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to finish off the day.
Salisbury will be the No. 3 seed in the upcoming CAC men's tennis tournament, hosting a first-round contest against the No. 6 seed on Sunday, April 22.
The teams will be back in action on Saturday, April 14, traveling to The College of New Jersey with matches beginning at 1 p.m.
