Arce Closes in Dominant Fashion, Dukes Beat Spartans 4-2

Friday, March 29

Norfolk, Va.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

Norfolk State

Arce Closes in Dominant Fashion, Dukes Beat Spartans 4-2

3/29/2019 5:52:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

NORFOLK, Va – Following a third-set bagel from sophomore Alvaro Arce, James Madison men's tennis earned a 4-2 win over Norfolk State (3-6) at the NSU Tennis Complex to improve to 13-7 on the dual season.

To open up the match, Arce and senior Pierre Kohler, the reigning CAA Doubles Team of the Week, earned a 6-3 win at No. 1. Junior Paul Mendoza and sophomore Gonzalo Adis captured their first victory of the year as a duo, as they prevailed 6-3 at No. 2 to clinch the doubles point.

Mendoza was first off the court, rolling 6-2, 6-1 at No. 2, his second match of the season playing on Court 2 (2-0). Junior Damon Roberts followed with a 6-1, 6-4 win of his own at No. 5, improving to 11-4 on the dual season.

But things tightened up after Kohler and Adis both dropped straight-set matches to cut the JMU lead to 3-2. Junior Tate Steinour and Arce both headed to third sets with the match in their hands.

With Steinour trailing 4-3, Arce was able to close out a dominant third set without giving up a game, winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-0.

"In the second and third set, I worked on my opponent's backhand until I got an easy ball to attack to his forehand, move him around, and then finish the point at the net." Arce said. "I also got used to hitting in the hard conditions, understanding when to hit the ball hard or just get it in."

The Dukes clinched at 4-2 with Arce's win, pushing him to a 9-6 dual-season record.

"No matter the score of game or set, Alvaro stuck to the pattern and came out on top," assistant coach Jason Sinkoff said. "This was a big win for him and the team."

With the match in hand, Steinour didn't finish, as he was down 4-3 in the third set.

RESULTS
Singles
1. Vini Da Silva def. Pierre Kohler 6-4, 6-4
2. Paul Mendoza def. Andres Alcaraz 6-2, 6-1
3. Alvaro Arce def. Agustin Carrizo 4-6, 6-2, 6-0
4. Flavian Fernandez def. Gonzalo Adis 6-2, 6-3
5. Damon Roberts def. Dan Dumitrascu 6-1, 6-4
6. Ignacio Guevel led Tate Steinour 5-7, 6-3, 4-3, unfinished

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

Doubles
1. Kohler/Arce def. Ferandez/Carrizo 6-3
2. Mendoza/Adis def. Da Silva/Guevel 7-5
3. Alcaraz/ Dumitrascu led Steinour/Raymundo 6-5, unfinished

Order of finish: 1, 2

QUOTING HEAD COACH STEVE SECORD
It was a tough match in tough conditions. Not everyone played at their best level, but they all fought. The conditions won't be easy at Wilmington either and the guys will rest up and embrace that challenge on Sunday.

UP NEXT
JMU continues south, as it takes on CAA-foe UNCW on Sunday, March 31, at noon.