Box Score (PDF)
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The George Mason University men's tennis team picked up its first win of the dual season with a 5-2 triumph at Mary Washington on a blustery Friday afternoon.
The Patriots took the doubles point, then captured four of six singles matches to claim victory.
"We didn't play to our full potential today, but we battled with a lot of heart and grit and came out on top with a good team win," head coach Jimmy Davis said. "I'm proud of the guys for how hard they fought, but we have lots of work to do before our next match to get to the level we know we're capable of achieving this year. When we can get everyone 1-13 giving 100 percent on the court, off the court, in the weight room and in the classroom we're going to push ourselves to a phenomenal season."
Mason took two of three contests in the doubles point, including a competitive 8-7 win at No. 2 by junior
Ryan Charles and freshman
Rithik Sardana. Mason's duo went to a tiebreak in that match and put together a strong 7-4 victory in the extra points.
Elsewhere, senior
Edward Ayers teamed up with sophomore
Rishab Sardana at No. 3 doubles to take an 8-6 win over the Desilva/Watson team from Mary Washington.
In singles, UMW tied it up with a win at No. 5, but Mason took a 2-1 edge with a win by
Rithik Sardana at No. 4. He won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, over UMW's Tecce.
Mary Washington took a victory at No. 1 to again tie the score, but Mason would close out the match with triumphs in the final three singles affairs.
At No. 2, senior
Jakob Nielsen won his first set in a tiebreak (8-6 in the extra points), then dispatched of his opponent 6-4 in the second to put Mason on the brink of clinching.
The clinch came courtesy of sophomore
Chanasorn Nakaurai, who won his first set (6-3) at No. 6, then proceeded to take an 8-6 tiebreaker in the second to win it 7-6.
Wrapping up the action,
Rishab Sardana won in three sets (6-4, 4-6, 6-4) over UMW's Fleming.
Mason returns to action next Sunday (Feb. 16) with a match against Monmouth on the campus of the U.S. Naval Academy. First serve is set for 4 p.m.
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