Dukes Tally 4-1 Win vs. Delaware, 5-0 Loss at No. 51 VCU

Sunday, January 18

Richmond, Va.

Noon

James Madison University

Delaware

Dukes Tally 4-1 Win vs. Delaware, 5-0 Loss at No. 51 VCU

1/18/2015 5:46:00 PM | Men's Tennis

RICHMOND, Va. – James Madison men's tennis split its day of matches at the VCU 4-1 Invitational, earning a 4-1 victory over Colonial Athletic Association foe Delaware before falling 5-0 to No. 51 VCU at the Thalhimer Tennis Center in Richmond, Va., on Sunday. The Dukes wrapped up the opening weekend of dual play with a 1-2 record.

JMU swept singles action 4-0 over Delaware with two-set wins at each position for the Dukes. Junior Robert Stirling (Caboolture, Australia/St. Columbans College) earned a 6-4, 6-2 win over Mike Furr at No. 1 singles while sophomore Sebastian Salinas (Merida, Mexico/Preparatoria Abierta SEP) defeated Matt Renzi 6-2, 6-4 at No. 2 singles. Sophomore Brett Moorhead (Midlothian, Va./Cosby) and freshman Stephen Goldman (Lutz, Fla./Gaither) each picked up 6-2, 6-1 victories, with Moorhead dropping Tyler Flematti at No. 3 singles and Goldman downing Tim Puterio at No. 4 singles.

In the lone doubles match between the Dukes and Blue Hens, junior Maxi Branth (Stockholm, Sweden/Tullinge Gymnasium) and sophomore Miljan Ruzic (Sydney, Australia/St. Euphemia College) fell in three sets to Shane Jeffray and Alex Sweet. The JMU duo won set one 6-3 before falling in a tightly-contested set two 7-5. Delaware earned the point with a 10-5 victory in the decisive third set.

JMU was swept 5-0 by No. 51 VCU in the team's second match of the day. At No. 1 singles, Stirling battled back from a 6-3 loss to Michael Voscek in set one to claim a 7-6 (0) victory in set two and tie the match. In the tiebreaker, Voscek overcame Stirling 1-0 (8).

In just his third collegiate dual match, Goldman battled Antonio Batlle in a two-set decision (6-4, 7-5) at No. 4 singles. Moorhead also fought against Wilder Pimentel at No. 3 singles, but fell in two sets (7-6, 6-3).

Salinas was defeated 6-2, 6-4 by Catalin Fifea at No. 2 singles. In doubles action, Branth and sophomore Alex Berdnikoff (Calgary, Alberta/Edge School for Athletes) lost in straight 6-2 sets to Joseph Cohen and Jacob Svensson.

The Dukes are back in action Friday, January 23 as they travel to Liberty for a 12 p.m. match.

JMU 4, Delaware 1
Singles
1) Robert Stirling (JMU) def. Mike Furr (UD) 6-4, 6-2
2) Sebastian Salinas (JMU) def. Matt Renzi (UD) 6-2, 6-4
3) Brett Moorhead (JMU) def. Tyler Flematti (UD) 6-2, 6-1
4) Stephen Goldman (JMU) def. Tim Puterio (UD) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles
1) Shane Jeffray/ Alex Sweet (UD) def. Maxi Branth/Miljan Ruzic (JMU) 3-6, 7-5, 10-5
No. 51 VCU 5, JMU 0
Singles
1) Michael Voscek (VCU) vs. Robert Stirling (JMU) 6-3, 6-7 (0), 1-0 (8)
2) Catalin Fifea (VCU) def. Sebastian Salinas (JMU) 6-2, 6-4
3) Wilder Pimentel (VCU) def. Brett Moorhead (JMU) 7-6, 6-3
4) Antonio Batlle (VCU) def. Stephen Goldman (JMU) 6-4, 7-5
Doubles
1) Joseph Cohen/ Jacob Svensson (VCU) def. Maxi Branth/Alex Berdnikoff (JMU) 6-2, 6-2