ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- Christopher Newport junior standout Eric Shulman rejuvenated his bid to return to the nationals, but the Captains' hopes of an upset evaporated in an 8-1 loss Tuesday at North Carolina Wesleyan, the 12th-ranked Division III team in the nation.

Shulman, who began the spring ranked fourth in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, had incurred ill-timed losses to players from Washington and Lee and Washington College (Md.). But Tuesday, he looked like a guy well above the dreaded "bubble," pulling away for a 7-5, 6-0 victory at the No. 1 spot over Antti Saari, the Finnish senior anchor of an all-international Bishops lineup.

Unfortunately for the Captains (6-5, 1-1 USA South), N.C. Wesleyan dominated most of the other matches with superlative power and touch before an enthusiastic crowd.

The Bishops showed why they were named the consensus favorite to win their third consecutive USA South tournament crown.

CNU is scheduled to play host to Averett at 1 p.m. Friday, alongside a concurrent women's match between the Captains and Cougars. CNU will be trying to gain the No. 2 seed in the USA South tournament and return to the national top 30.

No. 12 N.C. WESLEYAN 8, CNU 1
Doubles:
1. Antti Saari-Robert Kjelberg (NCWC) d. Gian Heyer-Matt King 8-3;
2. Viktor Selander-Clayton Sonn
(NCWC) d. Eric Shulman-Dusty Nelson 8-3;
3. Marcelo Prata-Kieran Bertsch (NCWC) d. Joey Manilla-Lorenzo Sison 8-0.

Singles:
1. Shulman (CNU) d. Saari 7-5, 6-0;
2. Alexey Rumyantsev (NCWC) d. Heyer 7-6, 6-2;
3. Kjelberg (NCWC) d. King 6-2, 6-0;
4. Fred Lemongo (NCWC) d. Garrett Widing 6-3, 6-0;
5. Sonn (NCWC) d. Manilla 6-2, 6-2;
6. Markus Ribbenstedt (NCWC) d. Sison 6-1, 6-1.

Records:
CNU 6-5, 1-1 USA South; N.C. Wesleyan 6-2, 2-0.