NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- With high-quality play throughout the lineup Saturday, the Christopher Newport men's tennis team achieved its first victory over a Division I opponent this season.

Led by Gian Heyer and Dusty Nelson, the Captains (6-2) defeated Norfolk State 7-2 on the CNU outdoor courts in the third of a four-match weekend.

The Captains sorely needed excellent depth Saturday because NSU offers the talents of powerful junior Arsenio Culver, a candidate for Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Culver and left-hander Ben Marks gave the Spartans a 1-0 lead by beating Matt King and Garrett Widing 8-2, but CNU took a 2-1 lead on an 8-4 victory by Eric Shulman and Nelson at No. 2 and an 8-5 triumph by Heyer and Kyle Tobin at No. 3.

CNU was missing the services of Joey Manilla, who turned his ankle while playing Friday against Guilford, but the Captains picked each other up with some intense, spectator-friendly play.

Culver -- sometimes serving at an estimated 120 mph -- overpowered Shulman 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 to square the match at 2, but the Captains then won some close first sets to take command.

Heyer's 6-4, 6-4 victory against Marks made the team score 3-2, and wins by Lorenzo Sison at No. 6, King at No. 4 and Widing (a three-setter) at No. 3 followed. Nelson completed the top-six competition with a 7-5, 6-4 victory at the fifth spot.

The Captains also beat NSU last season -- on Old Dominion's indoor courts -- but this year's triumph was more satisfying since the Spartans now have accomplished players at each position.

CNU hopes to keep that momentum going Sunday in the first of several key Atlantic South Region matches. The Captains will take a van to the tennis center in Fredericksburg for a noon match against Swarthmore, a Pennsylvania team that dropped a 7-2 decision at Mary Washington on Saturday.

In this week's Intercollegiate Tennis Association regional rankings, CNU was No. 10 and Swarthmore was No. 8. Neither team is among the 32 nationally ranked by the ITA, but they're not far behind -- regional No. 7 Washington and Lee is among three teams sharing the No. 30 national position.

The Captains will be looking to avenge a 5-4 loss to Swarthmore on the UMW courts two years ago, when CNU swept three doubles matches but went 1-5 in singles -- including one defeat by Martin Brown, who was well ahead before he injured his ankle and soon was forced to retire from his match.

CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT 7, NORFOLK STATE 2
Doubles:
1. Arsenio Culver-Ben Marks (NSU) d. Matt King-Garrett Widing 8-2;
2. Eric Shulman-Dusty Nelson (CNU) d. Kent Austin-Christian Romanzini 8-4;
3. Gian Heyer-Kyle Tobin (CNU) d. Brian Bullock-Jonathan Sessom 8-5.

Singles:
1. Culver (NSU) d. Shulman 6-2, 6-2;
2. Heyer (CNU) d. Marks 6-4, 6-4;
3. Widing (CNU) d. Romanzini 5-7, 6-2, 6-1;
4. King (CNU) d. Sessom 6-3, 6-3;
5. Nelson (CNU) d. Austin 7-5, 6-4;
6. Lorenzo Sison (CNU) d. Bullock 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.

Records:
NSU 2-11, Christopher Newport 6-2.