REDLANDS, Calif. -- Christopher Newport sophomore
Dominic Lacombe picked up the lone victory against 13th-ranked Redlands on Friday afternoon, as the 30th-ranked Captains fell, 8-1. CNU falls to 4-6 on the season while the Bulldogs are now 7-3.
Lacombe improved to 8-8 on the season with a straight set win at No. 5 singles for the Captains. The sophomore won, 7-6, 6-0, against Andrew Leahy in the Redlands lineup, to avoid the shutout for CNU. Lacombe snapped a personal five-match losing streak with his fourth dual victory of the season.
CNU played several tight matches in the setback, including hard-fought losses at 1 and 2 singles. At No. 2, senior
Justin Cerny cruised to a 6-2 win in the first set over Redlands' Joey Dulle, but the Bulldog senior responded in the second to pull out a 2-6, 6-3, 10-5 win. On the top line, Chase Lipscombe, who is ranked No. 5 in the nation, squeaked out a 7-5 win in the first set over
David Reed, but the CNU senior blew bounced back to win 6-2 in the second. Lipscomb finished off the win, 6-1, in the third, but the Captains' senior was only the third player this season to force a third set against him.
Cerny and Reed also played a tight match at No. 1 doubles, facing Joey Dulle and Brad Cummins before falling in a 9-8 final.
The Captains will return to the East Coast after the loss, set to host four straight matches. CNU will take on Centre College and Virginia Wesleyan University on March 17.
Final Results
1. Joey Dulle/Brad Cummins (Redlands) def.
Justin Cerny/
David Reed (CNU); 9-8
2. Chase Lipscomb/Brysl Libao (Redlands) def.
Dominic Lacombe/
Nicholas Ruzicka (CNU); 8-3
3. Cameron Krimbill/Cooper Lacetera (Redlands) def.
Andy Mason/
William Trang (CNU); 8-3
1. Chase Lipscomb (Redlands) def.
David Reed (CNU); 7-5, 2-6, 6-1
2. Joey Dulle (Redlands) def.
Justin Cerny (CNU); 2-6, 6-3, 10-5
3. Cameron Krimbill (Redlands) def.
Andy Mason (CNU); 6-4, 6-3
4. Brysl Libao (Redlands) def.
Nicholas Ruzicka (CNU); 6-4, 7-6
5.
Dominic Lacombe (CNU) def. Andrew Leahy (Redlands); 7-6, 6-0
6. Brad Cummins (Redlands) def.
James Baron (CNU); 6-3, 6-2
