FAIRFAX, Va. – Junior Jakob Nielsen cruised to victory at No. 3 singles to lead the George Mason University men's tennis team Saturday afternoon against Longwood at International Country Club.
 
He won his match in straight sets over Guillermo Cagigas. After dominating in the first, 6-1, Nielsen took the second, 6-4. It marked his second-consecutive singles victory.
 
Mason fell overall in the match, 6-1.
 
"The guys battled hard today and I think pulling out the doubles point could've changed the momentum for us and possibly the outcome of this match," head coach Jimmy Davis said. "We are competing well and getting closer to these tough teams. It's only a matter of time until we start pulling some of these out."
 
That doubles point provided a competitive opening to the match. Mason dropped the No. 1 doubles contest, but Mason's No. 3 combo of Giuliano Buzoianu and Luke Maxwell went back and forth before ultimately succumbing, 7-5. The Patriots' No. 2 tandem of Nielsen and junior Edward Ayers was leading 6-5 when the point was clinched.
 
Elsewhere in singles, Ayers dropped his first set at No. 1 to Amadeo Blasco, but locked into a heady battle in the second. The two athletes played to a 6-6 tie in the set, before Blasco ultimately prevailed in the tiebreaker.
 
At No. 5 singles, sophomore Ryan Charles battled in a shortened match before dropping an 8-5 match to Raisei Sakai.
 
Mason is back in action Friday at 11 a.m. with a home match vs. UDC. The contest will be played at Montclair Country Club in Montclair, Va.

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