JMU Sweeps Hampton for 7-0 Road Win

Friday, February 19

Hampton, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

Hampton

2/19/2016 11:45:00 PM | Men's Tennis

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - James Madison men's tennis swept Hampton for a 7-0 victory, sparked by a tiebreaking clinch in doubles action before successive two-set sweeps at every singles position.

JMU pulled back to an even dual mark at 2-2 (1-0 CAA) while Hampton fell to 0-1 in its season opener.

Tied 1-1 in doubles matches, senior Robert Stirling and freshman Tristan Stitt battled Matt Foster-Estwick and Joshua McQueen to a 7-6(3) tiebreak victory at the No. 1 position, sending JMU into singles play with a 1-0 lead.

Stirling and Stitt made it 2-0 days for themselves with a pair of two-set victories in singles action. Stirling dropped Peter Odegbami 7-6(3), 6-1 at No. 2 singles, and Stitt rolled Charles Hudson for a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 4 singles. Both Dukes hold 2-2 records in spring duals this season.

Junior Brett Moorhead and senior Maxi Branth also went 2-0 against the Pirates, beginning with a 6-1 at No. 3 doubles over Fedor Shirin and Anthony Acholonu. Moorhead also downed Shirin at No. 3 singles (6-1, 6-2) to move to 3-1 on the season, while Branth defeated Joshua McQueen at No. 5 singles (6-0, 7-5) to pull even at 2-2 in duals.

At No. 1 singles, junior Sebastian Salinas earned his third solo dual win of the spring with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Foster-Estwick. Junior Miljan Ruzic tallied his first dual win of the season as he rolled to a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Acholonu at No. 6 singles to round out the JMU scoring.

The Dukes are back in action tomorrow as they head to Norfolk State for a 3 p.m. match.

QUOTING HEAD COACH STEVE SECORD
"Doubles was really tight, and Tristan and Rob played with great composure during the breaker to secure the point. Hampton fought hard, but we found a way to get it done on every court. This is definitely a step in the right direction, and we look forward to our match with Norfolk State tomorrow."

FULL RESULTS
Doubles