SALISBURY, Md. – The Salisbury University men's tennis team earned a 8-1 win in its first match against a regionally-ranked opponent this season, defeating Bridgewater (Va.) College at the Salisbury University Indoor Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon.
Salisbury (2-0) picked up points in all three doubles matches, with senior Adam Goldberger and freshman Sean Ngo dropping the first game at No. 3 doubles before winning the next eight for a quick 1-0 lead for the Sea Gulls.
Senior Daniel Albers and junior Eric Spangler picked up an 8-2 win at the top doubles spot, using early service breaks to take a 4-1 lead, and staying in control for the win.
The closest match in doubles competition came at No. 2 where senior Demetri Vrahnos and junior Shanon Gunther battled for a 9-7 win.
Services breaks were hard to come by, but the Salisbury pair got one late, taking a 5-4 lead. Bridgewater's Brandon Larsen and Thomas Rishcoff would get a break-point chance during Vrahnos' service game, tied 5-5, but Vrahnos would protect the serve for a 6-5 lead.
At 7-6, Vrahnos and Gunther had three match points on Larsen's service game, but the Eagles would continue the match. Vrahnos held serve quickly and the Sea Gull pair secured the third point of the day by breaking Rishcoff's serve with both Vrahnos and Gunther coming up with winners at the net in the game. Vrahnos set up the match winner, with a shot from the net deep into the corner, which could not be returned. The senior was nearly flawless in his play at the net throughout the match.
Spangler picked up the fourth point for the Sea Gulls with a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 2 singles and Albers sealed the team win with his 6-1, 6-3 win at the top singles slot, using an early break of Larsen's serve in the second set and breaking again to end the match.
Vrahnos grabbed a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 3 while Goldberger cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 6.
Ngo was good for a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 5 while Gunther found himself in a three-set affair for the second time in as many days at No. 4. After dropping the opening set, 6-2, to Rishcoff, the Salisbury junior came back to square things with a 6-3 win in the second set. Rishcoff got a late break in the third set to take it, 6-3, for the only point of the day for the Eagles (1-1).
The Sea Gulls return to action after a layoff of more than a week, traveling to Hampden-Sydney College on March 3; it will mark the first of three-straight road matches.
