DANVILLE, Va. — The Averett University men's tennis program opened up the 2022 spring season with a tight 5-4 loss against unbeaten Christopher Newport University on Saturday afternoon at the James River Country Club.
In doubles play, the perennial powerhouse Captains (5-0) eked out a 2-1 advantage in three close matches, including an 8-6 win at No. 1 doubles. Averett (0-2) earned a point from the duo of freshman
Jay Trip and senior
Stan Martherus at No. 3 doubles with an 8-5 win.
CNU's Alec Strause, ranked No. 19 in the region by ITA, earned a win over the Cougars at No. 2 singles, but Trip dispatched opponent Ahnu Vodela, 7-5, 6-3, to give Averett a win at No. 4 singles. The Captains then went up 4-2 after picking up a narrow win, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 3 singles.
Although Averett went on to get big wins at No. 5 singles from
Rufus Nurminen (6-3, 7-5) and at No. 6 singles from freshman Martinho Gonclaves (6-4, 6-3), the battle at No. 1 singles proved to be the difference in the match. Junior
Jorge Figueroa and Ryan Macy went toe-to-toe in the opening set, with Macy inching ahead for a 7-5 win. Figueroa raced back to tie it up with a 6-1 win in the next set. Macy, however, clinched it with a 6-3 win in the third set.
The Cougars are back in action when travel to Randolph College on Feb. 26 at 1 p.m.
