JMU Opens Dual Slate with 6-1 Win over CAA Foe Delaware

Saturday, February 6

Newark, Del.

6 p.m.

James Madison University

Delaware

2/6/2016 9:51:00 PM | Men's Tennis

NEWARK, Del. - James Madison men's tennis won its season opener 6-1 at Delaware to start the dual slate with a 1-0 record against Colonial Athletic Association foes.

The Dukes swept the doubles point and carried that momentum into singles play, where they won five of six matches. Five Dukes went 2-0 on their opening day of dual competition against the Blue Hens (0-3, 0-1 CAA).

Senior Robert Stirling partnered with freshman Tristan Stitt for a 6-2 victory at No. 1 doubles over Mike Furr and Venkatesh Ramkumar. Stirling went on to defeat Shane Jeffray in two sets (7-6(1), 6-4) at No. 2 singles while Stitt came from behind to win in three sets (2-6, 6-2, 6-2) against Tyler Flematti.

Flematti and Jeffray teamed up at No. 2 doubles to compete against junior captains Miljan Ruzic and Sebastian Salinas, where the Dukes rolled to a 6-1 victory. Salinas, ranked 123rd nationally, also tallied a 6-0, 6-3 win over Furr at No. 1 singles.

At No. 3 doubles, senior Maxi Branth and junior Brett Moorhead came up with the 6-1 win over Blaise Casselbury and Alex Sweet to help complete the JMU sweep. Moorhead also notched a victory at No. 4 singles with straight 6-3 sets over Ramkumar while Branth took Tim Puterio down 6-0, 6-1 at No. 6 singles.

JMU hits the courts again next Friday with a 6 p.m. match at Morgan State.

QUOTING HEAD COACH STEVE SECORD
"We had a solid start - it is good to compete again. We took care of business in doubles and had a decent showing in singles. There are some things we did well and can build off of, as well as found a few things we can sharpen. Overall, I'm very pleased to start off with a CAA win."

FULL RESULTS
Doubles

Stirling/Stitt def. Furr/Ramkumar 6-2
Ruzic/Salinas def. Flematti/Jeffray 6-1
Branth/Moorhead def. Casselbury/Alex Sweet 6-1

Singles

Sebastian Salinas def. Mike Furr 6-0, 6-3
Robert Stirling def. Shane Jeffray 7-6(1), 6-4
Tristan Stitt def. Tyler Flematti 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
Brett Moorhead def. Venkatesh Ramkumar 6-3, 6-3
Blaise Casselbury def. Miljan Ruzic 6-4, 7-6
Maxi Branth def. Tim Puterio 6-0, 6-1

TWEET OF THE DAY

The wait is FINALLY OVER! #GoDukes pic.twitter.com/ui7LWhukPV
- JMU Men's Tennis (@JMUMTennis) February 6, 2016

UP NEXT
The Dukes are back at it next weekend with a 6 p.m. match at Morgan State on Friday, Feb. 12. They then travel north to face No. 47 Penn State on Saturday, Feb. 13 in a 4 p.m. contest.