SALISBURY, Md. – The Salisbury University men's tennis team continued its opening weekend at the SU Tennis Courts defeating Bridgewater (Va.) College, 8-1.

The Sea Gulls took the first point in doubles play with junior Grant Hudson and sophomore Kelson Weber with a solid 8-2 victory at the No. 2 spot. After a break at 3-2 in the match, they did not give up a game the rest of the way. Michael Popielski and Andrew Rainger claimed the second point of the day for the Sea Gulls with a tough 8-5 win at No. 3.

Working to the very end for the third doubles victory at No. 1, seniors Eric Spangler and Shanon Gunther took the tie-break win, 9-8 (7-2). After Spangler and Gunther got ahead 7-4, the Eagles' pair came back to force the tie-breaker to decide the match, but Salisbury would hold on. 

In singles play, Spangler claimed a 6-1, 6-0 win at the No. 1 spot, with Gunther earning a 6-0, 6-3 win at No. 2. 

Second off the court, and sealing the Sea Gull victory with the fifth point, was Weber at No. 4, winning 6-0, 6-1, with Popielski soon after at No. 6, earning a 6-3, 6-0 triumph.

Hudson and Rainger were the last two on the courts having tough matches at the No. 3 and No. 5 spots, respectively. Hudson won the first set, 6-4, and fell behind 5-0 in the second. But the junior won the next seven games to pick up a point for the Sea Gulls. Rainger, last on the court, had a tough match ultimately falling 6-2, 7-5.  

The Sea Gulls will be back on the SU Tennis Courts next Saturday, February 27, hosting the University of Maryland Eastern Shore at 9 a.m., and Goucher College at 1 p.m.