JMU Drops 5-2 Match at George Mason

Sunday, February 28

Vienna, Va.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

George Mason

2/29/2016 1:51:00 PM | Men's Tennis

VIENNA, Va. – James Madison men's tennis lost to George Mason 5-2 on the road Sunday afternoon as the Dukes fell to 3-4 (1-0 CAA) in duals matches and the Patriots improved to 2-4.

JMU started the day strong by sweeping the doubles point. The team of senior Robert Stirling and freshman Tristan Stitt continued a strong spring by winning 6-4 at the No. 1 position over Joe Hill and Daniel Gutierrez. Juniors Alex Berdnikoff and Miljan Ruzic won 6-3 at No. 3 against Tanner Baine and Andrew Curtis.

Junior Brett Moorhead was the only Duke to record wins in both doubles and singles. He and senior Maxi Branth took down James Lange and Aaron Capitel at No. 2 doubles by a score of 7-5. Moorhead bested Lange again at No. 2 singles, this time a 6-4, 6-1 straight-set victory.

Despite the performance of Moorhead, the Patriots posted four straight-set wins in singles play to clinch the win. Capitel defeated Stirling at the No. 1 position 6-1, 6-2. Hill, Baine and Gutierrez also won in two sets against Stitt, Branth and Ruzic, respectively. Berdnikoff battled Curtis at No. 6 singles, winning the first set 6-0, but eventually dropping the next two.

After playing four in-state rivals in a row, the Dukes travel to Washington, D.C. to face the Howard Bison at noon Wednesday.

FULL RESULTS
Doubles
1. Robert Stirling/Tristan Stitt (JMU) def. Joe Hill/Daniel Gutierrez (GMU), 6-4
2. Maxi Branth/Brett Moorhead (JMU) def. James Lange/Aaron Capitel (GMU), 7-5
3. Alex Berdnikoff/Miljan Ruzic (JMU) def. Tanner Baine/Andrew Curtis (GMU), 6-3
Singles
1. Aaron Capitel (GMU) def. Robert Stirling (JMU), 6-1, 6-2
2. Brett Moorhead (JMU) def. James Lange (GMU), 6-4, 6-1
3. Joe Hill (GMU) def. Tristan Stitt (JMU), 6-4, 6-1
4. Tanner Baine (GMU) def. Maxi Branth (JMU), 6-4, 7-6 (4)
5. Daniel Gutierrez (GMU) def. Miljan Ruzic (JMU), 7-5, 7-5
6. Andrew Curtis (GMU) def. Alex Berdnikoff (JMU), 0-6, 6-2, 6-4

UP NEXT
The Dukes travel to Howard on Wednesday, March 2 for a noon contest before returning to JMU for their home opener against Bridgewater.