NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In a hotly contested matchup between nationally-ranked men's tennis teams, the 23rd-ranked Captains ended a three-match skid with a 4-3 win over No. 34 N.C. Wesleyan University (6-12). Christopher Newport improved to 8-4 overall with the victory that included the doubles point and a clinching blow from graduate transfer Barrett Foster at No. 4 singles. 

Facing off against the Battling Bishops on a sun-splashed Sunday afternoon at the Eyre Courts, the Captains got off to a great start with wins in all three doubles matches. CNU then split the singles matches to edge out the former conference foes from the USA South Athletic Conference, picking up wins at No. 1, No. 4, and No. 6. 

The match started with Foster pairing up with Vincent Truong for a 6-2 win at No. 1 doubles against Farhaan Patrawala and Albert Sitwell. The doubles dominance continued at No. 2 where Nesh Kumaresan and Gabe Smith won by the same score, 6-2, against Martin Cardestig and Adam Singleton. With the doubles point already in hand, the Captains closed out the doubles sweep at No. 3 where Rainer Christiansen and Nathan Russell earned a 6-3 win against Brody Brice and Ben Russell. 

Carrying an all-important 1-0 lead into singles play, the Captains got a quick win at No. 6 where rookie Ivan Ceric toppled Largo Koch (6-1, 6-2). The Battling Bishops rallied for three team points, but Truong made sure the match was even at three points apiece with a win at No. 1. The CNU veteran downed Adam Singleton for the win (2-6, 6-1, 6-3). 

The match hinged on the bout at No. 4, where Barrett Foster faced Ben Russell. Outlasting Russell in a first-set tiebreaker proved pivotal as Russell rebounded for a 6-3 win in the second set. The victory came in three sets as Foster finished off a 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 7-5 win. 

CNU will travel to Mary Washington on April 4 for their next match. The Captains will take on the Eagles at 1:00 p.m.