NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- For the first time since 2007 and just the fifth time in program history, the Christopher Newport men's tennis team has started the season with four straight victories after winning 8-1 against Hampden-Sydney College (0-1) on Friday night. The Captains hot start to the year is the finest season-opening roll in Director of Tennis Eric Christiansen's career and just the second 4-0 start in the last 20 seasons for the Captains. 

Playing at the James River CC on Friday night, the Captains rolled through doubles action with a sweep before winning five of the six singles bouts against the Tigers. CNU picked up the seventh straight win over Hampden-Sydney in the first head-to-head bout since the 2009 season. 

Leading the way in the home match was regionally-ranked Alec Strause, picking up wins in both singles and doubles. Strause paired with Ryan Macy for an 8-3 win on the top line of doubles before capturing a straight set win at No. 2 singles over Tyler Brice (6-4, 6-1). Macy suffered the lone loss in his first appearance at No. 1 singles, edged out by Barret Foster in a terrific back-and-forth match that fell in favor of the Tigers (3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (7)). 

Matthew Dubuque and Eddy Porsmyr Hansen joined Strause with two wins on the day as the pair took control of the No. 3 doubles match easily, winning 8-1. Porsmyr Hansen then won (6-1, 6-0) at No. 3 singles over Frank Borden while Dubuque moved up a slot for a shutout win at No. 4 singles against Charles Adams (6-0, 6-0). 

The No. 2 doubles tandem was Bently Goodwin and Ahun Vodela, who earned an 8-3 win against Borden and John Kendrick. In singles play, veterans Tyler Hyun and Mason Kolls wrapped up the day with two wins and just one game lost between the two. Hyun defeated Henry Singleton at No. 5 (6-1, 6-0) and Kolls earned a quick win over Patrick Conde (6-0, 6-0). 

The weekend action continues on Saturday as Christopher Newport hosts Averett University at 3:00 p.m. It will be the 37th time the two teams have paired up in program history.