JMU Defeats George Mason 5-2 with Strong Singles Play

Friday, February 13

Fairfax, Va.

6 p.m.

James Madison University

George Mason

2/13/2015 10:14:00 PM | Men's Tennis

FAIRFAX, Va. – James Madison men's tennis won five of six singles matches against George Mason on Friday night to take the match 5-2 at International Country Club in Fairfax, Va.

The Dukes (3-4, 1-0 CAA) were swept by the Patriots (2-1, 0-0 A10) in doubles play, giving Mason a 1-0 advantage heading into singles action. Though the Patriots earned the first singles point and a 2-0 lead, the Dukes settled in and rattled off five consecutive wins, including three come-from-behind victories, for the 5-2 win.

"I'm very proud of the team for responding after not doing so well in doubles," Head Coach Steve Secord said. "Brett (Moorhead)'s tiebreaker win was huge for us. I am glad they are embracing the battle, and I'm looking forward to continuing that going forward."

With JMU down 2-0, sophomore Sebastian Salinas cut the Mason lead in half by defeating Aaron Capitel at No. 1 singles in straight 6-4 sets. Junior Robert Stirling knotted the match at 2-all with a three-set win over Jimmy Lange at No. 2 singles (2-6, 6-3, 6-0).

Sophomore Brett Moorhead gave JMU its first lead of the evening after battling for the comeback victory at No. 4 singles over Conor Moran. After falling 6-3 in set one, Moorhead regrouped and tallied his own 6-3 win in set two to tie the match. The pair battled in the decisive third set to a tiebreaker, with Moorhead coming out ahead 7-6(5).

Match point was clinched by sophomore Miljan Ruzic at No. 5 singles as the second-year player took down Tanner Baine in two sets (6-4, 6-0). Freshman Stephen Goldman added to the victory with a three-set win (2-6, 7-5, 10-5) over Daniel Gutierrez at No. 6 singles.

The Dukes have a nine-day gap between matches before heading to Penn State for a 3 p.m. match on February 22 in University Park, Pa.

JMU 5, George Mason 2
Singles
1. Sebastian Salinas (JMU) def. Aaron Capitel (GMU) 6-4, 6-4
2. Robert Stirling (JMU) def. Jimmy Lange (GMU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-0
3. Joe Hill (GMU) def. Maxi Branth (JMU) 7-5, 6-3
4. Brett Moorhead (JMU) def. Conor Moran (GMU) 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(5)
5. Miljan Ruzic (JMU) def. Tanner Baine (GMU) 6-4, 6-0
6. Stephen Goldman (JMU) def. Daniel Gutierrez (GMU) 2-6, 7-5, 10-5
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2, 4, 5*, 6
Doubles
1. Lange/Hill (GMU) def. Ruzic/Salinas (JMU) 6-4
2. Baine/Gutierrez (GMU) def. Branth/Stirling (JMU) 6-3
3. Capitel/Nick Barker (GMU) def. Goldman/Moorhead (JMU) 6-2
Order of Finish: 2, 3*, 1