Match Box Score

BRIDGEWATER, Va. -- Despite falling behind, 2-1, after doubles play, the Christopher Newport men's tennis team rallied for a 6-3 victory on the road Saturday, dropping Bridgewater College (6-7) in a 6-3 final. The Captains (11-4) won five singles matches and clinched the match when Joey Manilla picked up a win at No. 3 singles. 

In doubles play, Brandon Larsen and Evan Stack won for the Eagles at the top spot (8-5), and Peter Hawkins and Sam Churchill edged out Manilla and teammate Lloyd Luck at No. 3 (9-8 (7-3)). CNU's No. 2 tandem of Kyle Tobin and Robbie Wagner pulled out a 9-7 win over Christian Lynn and Mike Cable to get the Captains on the board headed into singles. 

All six matches were hotly contested in singles play. Wagner pulled away from Lynn at No. 4, taking a 6-4, 6-0 win to pull CNU even. Then, the teams traded points with Bridgewater taking the win at No. 1 and Joona Rahko pulling out a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 5 for CNU. 

Senior Will Sloan dropped his first set, 6-1, but responded in a big way with back-to-back 6-0 set wins at No. 6, over Sam Churchill. Then, Manilla finished out a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Brandon Larsen at the No. 3 spot to clinch the team win for CNU. The final point would go to CNU as well, as senior Kyle Tobin defeated Evan Stack, who was forced to retire early after a 4-6, 6-2, 2-3 match with the Captain. 

CNU returns home for a pair of USA South Athletic Conference matches to round out the regular season in league play. CNU takes on Greensboro College on April 6 at 2:00 p.m., and Methodist University on April 7.