Box Score in HTML Format

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In a highly-anticipated matchup with 21st-ranked Mary Washington (9-4, 2-0), the Christopher Newport men's tennis team dropped a narrow decision, 5-4, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The Captains fall to 6-7, 0-1 after the tough battle fell in favor of the visiting Eagles. 

Junior David Reed picked up the biggest win of the day for the Captains, playing at the No. 1 line of singles. Reed cruised to a blowout victory of nationally-ranked Brandon Griffin (6-0, 6-1), while dropping just one game in the straight set win. Griffin came into the match ranked No. 46 in the nation, and Reed earned his third victory of the season over a nationally-ranked opponent. 

The Captains took a 2-1 lead after doubles, capturing wins at No. 1 and No. 2. Reed and fellow junior partner Justin Cerny earned an 8-5 win in the top matchup, taking down Mary Washington's Ryland Bird and Michael Fleming. In the No. 2 bout, CNU's underclass duo of William Trang and Andy Mason took down Derek Hagino and Matt Miles. Mary Washington cut the lead in half with an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles. 

Following Reed's win in singles action, the Eagles would win the next four matches to clinch the team victory. Hagino clinched the win for Mary Washington, defeating Nicholas Ruzicka at No. 6 (1-6, 7-5, 6-1) in one of the tighest matches of the day. Ruzicka posted a win in the first set, and nearly grabbed a straight set win, but Hagino held on for a 7-5 victory in the second and rebounded for the match in the third. 

CNU also picked up a win at No. 5 singles, as William Trang joined Reed with a 2-0 day. Trang defeated Joseph Brown in a barn-burner, stretched to the final serve in all three sets. The two players traded 7-6 wins in the first two sets and, in the pro-set breaker, Trang outlasted his Mary Washington counterpart for an 11-9 win. The final score read 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (1-7), 11-9. 

The Captains will hit the road for Capital Athletic Conference action this week, headed to St. Mary's (Md.) for a 3:00 pm match on March 28. CNU will then return home for two home matchups next weekend against Penn State Harrisburg and York (Pa.).