OBERLIN, Ohio – Christopher Newport sophomore Eric Shulman made his first appearance in the NCAA Division III singles tournament Friday, and though he lost in the first round, he can carry one big honor.

Shulman, the only USA South player in the field of 32, fought John Watts to the limit before losing 6-0, 0-6, 6-3 in the Cleveland suburb.

Watts, the ace for NCAA semifinalist Washington University in St. Louis, had been named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Division III Senior Player of the Year. He went on to make Shulman look even better by winning the singles championship, beating his opponents in the round of 16, quarterfinals, semis and final in straight sets. Shulman ended up as the only player to take a set off him in the three-day event, and it was the first time in Watts' storied career that he lost a 6-0 set to a D-III opponent.

The Captains finished 14-9 and as USA South runners-up, rose as high as No. 29 in the ITA rankings and hope to be included in the final top 30.