JMU Rallies for 4-3 Victory at Howard

Wednesday, March 2

Washington, D.C.

Noon

James Madison University

Howard

3/2/2016 7:30:00 PM | Men's Tennis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Playing with just five Dukes in the line-up, James Madison men's tennis rallied for a 4-3 win at Howard on Wednesday afternoon.

JMU started doubles competition down 1-0 with no duo at the No. 3 position. The Dukes knotted it at 1-all when senior Maxi Branth and junior Brett Moorhead defeated Hawkins Owens and Laguna Foster 6-1 at No. 2 doubles, but a 6-4 loss by junior Miljan Ruzic and freshman Tristan Stitt at No. 1 doubles to Ismael Kauoache and William Jones clinched the point for the Bison.

The Bison entered singles competition with a 2-0 lead as the Dukes defaulted at the No. 6 position, but JMU rattled off four straight singles wins to take the come-from-behind victory.

Ruzic opened the stretch with a two-set (6-1, 6-2) win over Foster at No. 4 singles, quickly followed by Stitt with a two-set (6-3, 6-1) win over Myron Davis to tie the match at 2-2.

Branth gave the Dukes their first lead of the day when he took down Jones in straight 6-3 sets at No. 3 singles. Moorhead secured the team win for JMU with a 6-4, 6-2 victory at No. 1 singles.

JMU has a fast turnaround, heading home to Hillside Courts for a 3 p.m. match against Bridgewater on Thursday, March 3. This will be the Dukes' home opener for the 2015-16 season.

QUOTING HEAD COACH STEVE SECORD
"I'm glad to come away with the win today. While it would have been nice to win the doubles point, the team responded well in singles play. I'm looking forward to getting everyone on the team healthy and back out on the courts."

FULL RESULTS
Doubles (3, 2, 1*)