Full Results (PDF)
• Ayers won his first three singles matches to reach the 'A' flight title showdown
• Senior
Pally Ray went 3-1 while placing third in the 'A' flight
• Ayers and partner
Giuliano Buzoianu finished third in the 'A' doubles bracket
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – George Mason University men's tennis student-athlete
Edward Ayers continued his hot start to his sophomore campaign with a runner-up finish at the Navy Blue Invite this weekend.
Ayers went 3-1 in the 'A' singles flight to lead the Patriots in Annapolis. He also notched a 3-1 doubles record with partner
Giuliano Buzoianu.
"This was a great tournament for us before we leave for regionals in a few days," head coach Jimmy Davis said. "The guys came out ready to compete and showed lots of improvements in the areas we've been focusing on in practice. I think we are trending in the right direction, and we are excited to get back to practice for a couple of days so we can continue building on these results at ITA Regionals."
Ayers won his first three matches of the weekend, beginning with a straight sets victory over Navy's Matt Lee (6-2, 6-2). He then advanced past the Middies' Aries Wong (7-5 3-6 7-6 (4)) before taking down Morgan State's Oguzhan Ceylan in the semifinals (7-5, 6-2). Ayers fell to Navy's Andrew Ton in the 'A' final.
Elsewhere in the bracket, senior
Pally Ray registered a third-place showing while posting a 2-1 singles mark. The Alpharetta, Ga., product began with a marathon victory over Navy's Andrey Majkic (6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4). After advancing due to an opponent injury, Ray fell in the semifinals, but won the third-place match (6-3, 6-0) over Ceylan.
In the 'B' flight, freshman
Carter Bradford placed second after reaching the championship match. He opened with a victory over Harford CC's Dawit Tesfti (6-0, 7-5), then defeated Navy's Romesh Kahatapitiya in straight sets (6-4, 6-4). He won a three setter over Morgan State's Sebastian Lopez (6-4 5-7 6-0) before falling in the title match.
In doubles, Ayers and Buzoianu led the way for the Green & Gold. They defeated Navy's McNair/Martin duo (6-3) in the opening round before upending the Lohrbach/Durham Navy duo in the quarters (7-6 (4)). After falling in the semifinals, the Mason pair picked up a consolation win over Morgan State's Rawal/Krusinski duo (6-4) to place third.
Mason now wraps up its fall season Oct. 19-23 at the ITA Regionals in Lynchburg, Va.
#GetPatriotic
