Dukes Find a Way, Overcome Delaware 4-3

Saturday, March 16

Harrisonburg, Va.

noon

James Madison University

Delaware

3/16/2019 5:00:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va – James Madison men's tennis used the doubles point, two straight-set victories and a clutch third set performance to earn its second win in Colonial Athletic Association play, taking down Delaware 4-3 at the Hillside Courts.

The Dukes (11-4, 2-1 CAA) used dominant play sweep all three doubles matches from the Blue Hens (9-5, 0-1 CAA). Juniors Josh Raymundo and Tate Steinour were off the court first, after pounding Delaware's Nathan Benyowitz and Laurenz Lankes 6-1. Raymundo and Steinour are now 3-0 on the season.

Senior Pierre Kohler and sophomore Alvaro Arce clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 win at No. 1, followed by a 7-6 (2) win at No. 2 from freshman William Karpinski and sophomore Gonzalo Adis.

With JMU up 1-0, Adis and Mendoza both earned straight-set victories – the only two of the day for either squad. Adis fell behind 3-0 in the opening set before upping his level and eventually winning 6-4, 6-4 at the No. 5 slot. Mendoza endured long rally after long rally, finally grinding his opponent down at No. 3, 6-4, 6-3.

"Adis said he recognized what was going on all the other courts and knew he had to bear down to get that point," coach Steve Secord said. "That was huge for that emotional momentum to go our way. Paul had a tough first set, easily could've split, but he stepped up and showed a lot of leadership winning in two."

Both Mendoza and Adis have now won six of their last seven matches.

On Courts 1, 2, 4 and 6, the Dukes dropped the first set, but won the second set, making for drama during JMU's first match of the season on their outside Hillside Courts. Junior Damon Roberts was the Duke to eventually pull through and clinch the match at 4-0, as he earned his second three-set triumph of the dual season, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2.

"Today was about being gritty and winning ugly," Roberts said "I turned things around because I was able to listen to what Jason said and do things that worked. I played the big points well, and played my game throughout the match, not feeling much pressure."

Roberts saved four match points in his win.

Karpinski, Kohler, and Arce would all eventually fall in their third sets, leaving the Dukes with a 4-3 CAA victory.

RESULTS
Singles
1. James Wilkinson def. Pierre Kohler 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-3
2. Luis Molina def. Alvaro Arce 7-5, 5-7, 7-5
3. Paul Mendoza def. Guiherme Valdoeiros 6-4, 6-3
4. Damon Roberts def. Blaise Casselbury 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2
5. Gonzalo Adis def. Nathan Benyowitz 6-4, 6-4
6. Justice Jones def. William Karpinski 6-1, 5-7, 6-3

Order of finish: 5, 3, 4, 6, 1, 2

Doubles
1. Kohler/Arce def. Wilkinson/Molina 6-3
2. Adis/Karpinski def. Casselbury/Jones 7-6 (2)
3. Steinour/Raymundo def. Benyowitz/Lankes 6-1

Order of finish: 3, 1, 2

QUOTING ASSISTANT COACH JASON SINKOFF
Singles started down on just about all the courts. We have to know that no matter how bad things are going, we always have the ability to turn it around. You can always play more consistent, make more balls, gain confidence, and then as the match goes on you can go for more, and more, and so on. Eventually you go from inconsistent, to being able to play more aggressive, so we just have to adjust our attitude in those types of matches. Damon was out of the match, but he reacted well and eventually turned it around, starting with improving his returns.

UP NEXT
JMU travels to VCU to start a five-match road trip on Wednesday, March 20, at 3 p.m.