SALISBURY, Md. -- Despite an illness to the school's all-time victory leader, the Christopher Newport men's tennis team swept six singles matches Thursday afternoon and registered a resounding 8-1 defeat of longtime rival Salisbury on the Sea Gulls' courts.

CNU earned a 2-1 lead through doubles play, relying on new combinations.

Senior Gian Heyer and junior Kyle Tobin won 8-3 at No. 2, and sophomore Joey Manilla and freshman Will Sloan scored an 8-5 triumph.

At No. 1 doubles, an ailing Shulman and senior Matt King incurred a rare defeat, dropping an 8-5 decision to Daniel Albers and Daniel Barnas. That came just two days after King and Shulman had beaten the nation's No. 3 tandem, North Carolina Wesleyan's Robert Kjellberg and Alexey Rumyantsev.

CNU coach Rush Cole said Shulman was ill Wednesday night, leading to Shulman's removal from the singles lineup, but his fellow Captains took up the slack.

Heyer romped past the tricky Barnas 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1, Tobin rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 win at 5, junior Robbie Wagner won 6-4, 6-3 at 4, and Manilla registered a 6-1, 6-3 triumph at 3. Senior Tom Whaling, who began the day believing he'd just play an exhibition match, stepped in at No. 6 and won 6-3, 6-3.

King, nursing an injured right hand, gained the day's most dramatic victory, edging Albers 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5) at the second spot in the last match off the court.

CNU improved to 5-7 and next will head west to play in-state opposition this weekend. The Captains will face Ferrum at 4 p.m. Friday, Roanoke at 9 a.m. Saturday and Averett at 4 p.m. Saturday.

CNU 8, SALISBURY 1

Doubles:
Daniel Albers-Daniel Barnas (S) d. Matt King-Eric Shulman 8-5;
Gian Heyer-Kyle Tobin (C) d. Curtis Quandt-Nick Mancuso 8-3;
Joey Manilla-Will Sloan (C) d. Adam Goldberger-Justin Smith 8-5.

Singles:
Heyer (C) d. Barnas 6-0, 6-1;
King (C) d. Albers 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5);
Manilla (C) d. Quandt 6-1, 6-3;
Robbie Wagner (C) d. Goldberger 6-4, 6-3;
Tobin (C) d. Smith 6-1, 6-0;
Tom Whaling (C) d. Mancuso 6-3, 6-3.

Records:
CNU 5-7, Salisbury 3-6.