NEWPORT NEWS, VA - Christopher Newport's first men's tennis victory against Mary Washington since 1998 certainly didn't lack for drama.

Martin Brown saved three match points to win the second set outdoors Wednesday, then won the third set 6-2 indoors to give CNU arguably its biggest men's tennis victory in two years -- a 5-4 triumph over Mary Washington.

The Eagles (5-10) -- who, like the Captains, play a highly challenging non-league schedule -- began the match at No. 26 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's new NCAA Division III rankings and have become one of the region's model programs under Todd Helbling's coaching.

CNU still is searching for a spot in the top 30, and Wednesday's victory is a significant step in that direction.

CNU's Dusty Nelson edged Evan Goff 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 5 to force a tie at 4 in the team score, and Brown pulled out a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 triumph over Will Apperson at No. 3 for the Captains (7-7).

When Brown won the second set, it was too dark to continue play on CNU's outdoor courts, so the match was moved less than a mile away to Centre Court Racquet Club's indoor facility to finish. The dual started at 3 p.m. and didn't end until well after 8.

No. 1 Eric Shulman and No. 2 Gian Heyer won in singles for the Captains, and Shulman and Lorenzo Sison won at second doubles. Shulman showed why he's ranked No. 5 in the South Atlantic Region in singles, winning eight straight games to take control in a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Sam Wichlin.

UMW's wins came from the tandems of Goff-Kaz Murata at 1 and Apperson-Wichlin at 3. Apperson and Wichlin saved a couple of match points, with CNU serving at 7-6, and won 9-8 (7-2).

In singles, No. 4 Riley Baver and No. 6 Brian Hope won for the Eagles.

It was an especially significant win for CNU, given that regular starter Garrett Widing is out with mononucleosis. He says he plans to be back for the USA South tournament.

All of the Captains' losses have been to teams in Division I (Richmond and Old Dominion) or teams in the ITA D-III rankings (No. 11 Carnegie Mellon, No. 14 Salisbury, No. 15 Kalamazoo, No. 17 Chicago and No. 25 Vassar).

The Captains return to action Thursday against No. 10 North Carolina Wesleyan. The winner of that match likely will be the top seed in the conference tournament, which starts April 16 in Burlington, N.C.

The women are scheduled to start against N.C. Wesleyan at about 12:30 p.m., with the men to follow at about 3.

CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT 5, MARY WASHINGTON 4
Doubles
1. Evan Goff-Kaz Murata (UMW) d. Gian Heyer-Dusty Nelson 8-4.
2. Eric Shulman-Lorenzo Sison (CNU) d. Andrew Frisk-Brian Hope 8-6.
3. Will Apperson-Sam Wichlin (UMW) d. Martin Brown-Kyle Tobin 9-8 (7-2).

Singles
1. Shulman (CNU) d. Wichlin 6-4, 6-1.
2. Heyer (CNU) d. Murata 7-5, 6-1.
3. Brown (CNU) d. Apperson 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.
4. Riley Baver (UMW) d. Sison 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
5. Nelson (CNU) d. Goff 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
6. Hope (UMW) d. Tobin 6-4, 6-0.

Records
UMW 5-10, CNU 7-7.