LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Christopher Newport's men's tennis Captains registered their first victory over a nationally ranked opponent since 2010, beating Occidental College 6-3 on the Tigers' home courts at the Scholl Valley club.

Capping a productive yet occasionally frustrating trip to Southern California against some of the better teams in small-college tennis, CNU broke through by winning two doubles pro-sets and four singles matches.

CNU all-time victory leader Eric Shulman continued to dominate at No. 1, coming back from 4-0 behind in the first set for a 7-5, 6-1 triumph.

But the last three of CNU's singles wins were from a set behind, as a team beset with a previous 1-6 dual record rose up to defeat a then-7-2 squad that shares the nation's No. 30 ranking with three teams.

In doubles, Shulman and Matt King -- ranked fourth in the country -- won 8-2, and Gian Heyer and Joey Manilla gave the Captains a 2-1 edge with a 9-8 (7-5) tiebreaker triumph. Robbie Wagner and Tom Whaling were competitive but lost 8-6.

In singles, after Shulman put the Captains ahead 3-1, CNU fought back to make its red-eye cross-country flight happy.

No. 2 Heyer, No. 3 King and No. 6 Kyle Tobin all won despite dropping their initial sets.

Tobin, a junior from Liberty High in Bealeton, reversed his recent frustrations with a thrilling 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) win that gave the Captains their clinching fifth point.

Shulman, who frequently breaks racket strings because of his power and spin, said he began his match with one of Tobin's rackets.

Ironically, since Tobin had broken a string earlier, he clinched the team victory with the same racket Shulman had used earlier in the day.

Even the two Captains who lost in singles, No. 4 Manilla and No. 5 Wagner, took their opponents to three sets.

Given this boost of momentum, the Captains won't practice till Tuesday. They'll play a Thursday home match against Atlantic South Region rival Washington College of Chestertown, Md. 

CNU 6, co-No. 30 OCCIDENTAL 3
Doubles
1. Matt King-Eric Shulman (C) d. Jordan Brown-Jeremy Shapiro 8-2.
2. Gian Heyer-Joey Manilla (C) d. Spencer Choy-Stephen Perkins 9-8 (7-5).
3. David Cotton-Kevin Siebs (O) d. Robbie Wagner-Tom Whaling 8-6.

Singles
1. Shulman (C) d. Siebs 7-5, 6-1.
2. Heyer (C) d. Shapiro 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.
3. King (C) d. Brown 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.
4. Perkins (O) d. Manilla 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
5. Choy (O) d. Wagner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
6. Kyle Tobin (C) d. Ben Herrington-Gilmore 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).

Records
CNU 2-6, Occidental 7-3.