Box Score NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia - The Virginia Wesleyan University men's tennis team took the court for the first time since March 13, 2020 on Sunday at the James River Country Club taking on Tidewater rival Christopher Newport University. Making their debut for the Marlins were freshman
Felix Bevc (Frankfurt, Germany) and junior transfer
Connor Cummings (Virginia Beach, VA).
In doubles, the Captains drew first blood by taking the #2 spot, 8-1 over sophomore
Henry West (Cheltenham Gloucestershire) and junior
Michael Portera (Raleigh, NC). At #3 doubles, senior
Anthony Wilson (Lynchburg, VA) and
Connor Cummings fell 8-3. With the Captains up 2-0, the Marlins punched back by taking the top spot when senior
Mitchell Perry (Johns Creek, GA) and
Felix Bevc defeated CNU's Ryan Macy and Alec Strause, 8-5.
Playing on four courts, Bevc, Perry, Wilson and West, 1-4 respectively, were first on for the Marlins. Wilson battled hard and fought off 3 match points in the 2nd set before falling to CNU's James Baron, 6-3, 7-5. At 4, CNU's Ryan Macy defeated
Henry West 6-1, 6-2. In a hard fought contest at the top spot, CNU's ODU transfer, Scotty Hunter, defeated Bevc 6-2, 6-2.
At #2 singles,
Mitchell Perry claimed his 2nd team point of the evening by taking down CNU's Alec Strause 6-4, 6-7 (4), 10-8. Perry jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first set, holding on to the break of serve, taking the set 6-4. In the second set, Perry again jumped out to an early break lead and found himself serving for the match at 5-4. Up 40/0, Strause fought back winning five consecutive points leveling the match at 5-5. At 6-6, Strause jumped on Perry early in the tiebreaker taking a 5-1 lead, holding on to take the 2nd set tiebreaker 7-4. In the match tiebreaker, Perry took an early lead and held on taking the tiebreaker 10-8 and claiming his 2nd team point of the evening.
CNU captured #5 and #6 singles over Portera and Cummings, 6-3, 6-0 and 6-2, 6-0 respectively, rounding out the 7-2 win for the Captains.
"I was proud of the way our guys competed in our first competition since shutting down last March. CNU is a deep and talented team and I felt like we maintained solid energy throughout the match", said head VWU head coach Marty Perry.
The Marlins will travel to Maryland on Saturday 3/6 to take on regional power Salisbury University. Match time is set for 1 PM.
Doubles
1. Felix Beuc/Mitch Perry (VWU) def. Ryan Macy/Alec Strause (CNU); 8-5
2. Scotty Hunter/Matt Dubuque (CNU) def. Mike Portera/
Henry West (VWU); 8-1
3. James Baron/Paul Baron (CNU) def.
Anthony Wilson/
Connor Cummings (VWU); 8-3
Singles
1. Scotty Hunter (CNU) def. Felix Beuc (VWU); 6-2, 6-2
2. Mitch Perry (VWU) def. Alec Strause (CNU); 6-4, 6-7 (4), 10-8
3. James Baron (CNU) def.
Anthony Wilson (VWU); 6-3, 7-5
4. Ryan Macy (CNU) def.
Henry West (VWU); 6-1, 6-2
5. Mason Kolls (CNU) def. Mike Portera (VWU); 6-3, 6-0
6. Matt Dubuque (CNU) def.
Connor Cummings (VWU); 6-2, 6-0
