Box Score vs. Southern Virginia
Box Score vs. Washington & Lee
BUENA VISTA, Va. -- The Christopher Newport University men's tennis team moved their record to 7-4 overall this season, after splitting a doubleheader on the road. The Captains took down Southern Virginia University (3-6) without giving up a set, 9-0, before dropping a 7-2 decision to nationally-ranked Washington & Lee University (10-2).
The Captains were led by rookies
Arttu Fiva and
Michael Dodd, who picked up a pair of singles wins on the day. The two first-year players grabbed the only wins against the 22nd-ranked Generals, after also earning wins in the first match of the day against the Knights.
Playing at the No. 5 position, Fiva defeated Adam Blocher (6-3, 6-1) in the morning match before battling back for a tough three-set win in the afternoon against the Generals. Playing John Kirby, the CNU freshman dropped the first set, 6-4, but answered with a 6-1 win in the second before a 10-7 win in the deciding set.
Dodd played at No. 6 in both matches and surrendered just two games in the first match versus Brian Blocher. He won 6-2, 6-0 to help the Captains win a 9-0 match against the Knights. Then, against Washington & Lee, Dodd faced off against Robert Conley and pulled away for a 6-3, 6-3 win.
The clean sweep against Southern Virginia included wins from
Sam Thomson at No. 1 singles,
Steven Boslet at No. 2,
Chiraag Shetty at No. 3 and
Joona Rahko playing at No. 4. In doubles play, Boslet and Thomson picked up their seventh win of the season at No. 1 doubles, while Rahko/Shetty and Dodd/Fiva combined for wins at No. 2 and 3, respectively.
In the afternoon match against the nationally-ranked Generals, the Captains continued to show toughness against the top teams on their schedule. In doubles play, the Captains narrowly missed taking at least one point, when Shetty and Rahko were defeated in a tiebreak. Playing Christopher Hu and Sam Borowsky, the Captains' tandem suffered a 9-8 (7-4) setback at No. 2 doubles.
In singles play, all six of the Captains managed to post at least one set with four games won. The Generals improved to 10-2 on the season while CNU fell to 7-4. The Captains will be back in action on Sunday, March 23, as they host Frostburg State University in CAC action, and Division I College of Charleston in non-conference action.
