NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The hot start to the 2026 season continued on a chilly and rainy afternoon at the James River Country Club where the nationally-ranked CNU men's tennis program dispatched of the 36th-ranked Averett University Cougars, 7-0. The Captains improved to 3-0 while Averett dropped to 0-2 to start the spring with the matchup on Sunday. 

CNU won all nine matches on Sunday including a dominant run through singles play. The Captains surrendered no more than five games in a single match and held their Averett counterparts in check throughout the day. 

In doubles action, the Captains won 6-2 at No. 1, 6-4 at No. 2, and 7-5 at No. 3. Leading the way on the top line was Barrett Foster and Vincent Truong as the veterans took down Lucas Fiandra and Alex Rudy from Averett. At No. 2 it was Nesh Kumaresan and Gabe Smith pairing up for a win against Sam Egui and Rafael Jodas; and, at No. 3 Rainer Christiansen played with Nathan Russell for a win against Julius Bert and Alex Donnelly. 

All six Captains went 2-0 on the day as the same group competed in singles play. 

On the top line, Russell cruised by Satwik Kollepalli (6-2, 6-2). Truong snagged a win over Bert at No. 2 (6-1, 6-3) and Foster gave up just one game in a win at No. 3 over Rudy (6-1, 6-0). Continuing the dominant day indoors, Kumaresan rolled to a win at No. 4 against Jodas (6-1, 6-1) and Smith slammed the door on Fiandra at No. 5 (6-4, 6-1). The final match of the day was an impressive win for Christiansen, blanking Roger Pamies Petit in the match at No. 6 (6-0, 6-0). 

The 24th-ranked Captains start the season 3-0 for the fifth year in a row. CNU will stay at home for the next two, welcoming in Shenandoah University on Friday, February 20 at 3:00 p.m. before entertaining 25th-ranked Haverford College on Saturday, February 21 at 11:00 a.m.