ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- Picking up another marquee victory early in the season, the Christopher Newport men's tennis team earned a huge 5-4 win on a neutral court Sunday afternoon, taking down Southwestern University (0-3). The Pirates were ranked No. 10 in the most recent ITA National Rankings, marking the second nationally-ranked win for the Captains in three matches to start the year. 

CNU improved to 3-0 on the season with the victory, which was played on the indoor courts at North Carolina Wesleyan College. With the score knotted at 4-4 and just the No. 6 singles bout remaining, Christopher Newport junior Matthew Dubuque clinched the Captains' win with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Jared Burton. 

Dubuque also won at No. 3 doubles with Eddy Porsmyr Hansen, 8-6, against Burton and Carlos Esteban. He and Ryan Macy were the only two Captains to win in both singles and doubles action on Sunday. It was Dubuque's second match-clinching win of the season. 

The Captains took a pivotal 2-1 lead after doubles with wins at 1 and 3. In addition to the aforementioned win at No. 3, Macy paired with Alec Strause for an 8-4 win over Hunter Bajoit and Vesko Lekovic. The Pirates rallied for a narrow 8-6 win at No. 2 to keep the match tight heading into singles action. 

In individual play, Southwestern earned wins on lines one, three, and five to tie the score at four. Macy defeated Lekovic (4-6, 6-1, 6-4) at No. 2 and newcomer Ahun Vodela dispatched of Esteban (6-4, 6-4) at No. 4. Those wins would set up the clinching point from Dubuque. 

Christopher Newport will return to action on Friday at home against Hampden-Sydney College at 7:00 pm.