SALISBURY, Md.- The Salisbury University men's tennis team earned two wins Saturday, 9-0, over Wesley College and, 7-2, over St. Mary's College of Maryland at the SU Tennis Courts.
The maroon and gold earned a crucial conference victory over St. Mary's 7-2 to finish off Capital Athletic Conference regular-season play. Sophomore Eric Spangler continued his impressive play, notching his second straight 6-0, 6-0 victory of the week, this one over Mark Hardesty at No. 2 singles.
Junior Demetri Vrahnos was victorious at No. 3, taking the first set in a tiebreak 7-4 after escaping a 4-3 deficit. He then took the second set, 6-1, over John Feighner.
At No. 4, senior Adam Goldberger rolled to a 6-1, 6-2 win over Jay Guzzone, while junior Shane Gunther dominated 6-1, 6-0 at No. 5. Sophomore Nick Mancuso captured a first-set win 6-2 at No. 6 before grinding out the second, 7-5, over Robert Bishop.
St. Mary's (10-6, 2-2 CAC) earned their only singles point at No. 1 as Andrew Gear battled sophomore Daniel Albers in a captivating three-set affair, which featured many long rallies. Gear took the first set 7-5 after the pair exchanged several breaks of service. Albers responded with a strong second set, taking it 6-3, and forcing a winner-take-all third set.
In that final set, Gear was the first to break to lead 2-1 before Albers broke back for a 3-2 advantage. Gear then returned the favor to pull ahead 4-3. The pair exchanged breaks once more which led to the deciding tie-breaker.
Albers took a 3-1 lead before Gear evened at three apiece. The pair battled to a 6-6 tie before Gear closed out the match as Albers sent a forehand long, winning 8-6.
Salisbury earned two wins in doubles as Albers and Spangler downed Gear and Hardesty, 8-3, at No. 1 and Gunther and Mancuso won 8-3 at No. 3.
The Seahawks' only doubles point came as Feighner and Guzzone narrowly edged Vrahnos and Goldberger, 8-6, at No. 2.
In the opener, Salisbury collected a 9-0 victory over Wesley College (1-5, 0-3 CAC). Freshmen Aaron Heffley and Shanon Gunther earned an 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles, the only doubles affair of the match.
Heffley and Gunther each dominated 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 and No. 3 singles, respectively, while freshman Matthew McGaffney won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 to complete the victory.
With the two wins, the Sea Gulls improve their record in conference to 4-1 and earn the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the upcoming Capital Athletic Conference Tournament. Salisbury also assures itself of at least one home match in tournament.
The Sea Gulls (12-8) return to action Friday, April 19 at the SU Tennis Courts when they battle Washington (Md.) College. The match is set to begin at 3 p.m.
