FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The George Mason University men's tennis team began the dual season in winning fashion, taking down Mary Washington 5-2 on Saturday afternoon on the UMW Campus.
The Patriots swept the three doubles matches, then took four of six singles contests to claim victory.
"We fought hard and did a good job competing in our first match," head coach Jimmy Davis said. "I don't think we played at the level we are capable of, but it was a good step in the right direction for the season. We have a good opportunity at JMU tomorrow, and the guys are excited to continue improving and get better in pressure play."
Mason started strong in doubles, where the program's power duo of graduate student
Ryan Charles and junior
Rithik Sardana won 8-6 over UMW's Hutchison/DeSilva duo.
At No. 2 doubles, senior
Rishab Sardana and junior
Faisal Alrebdi took down the Charan Shankar/Spera pairing, 8-5.
Then at No. 3, junior
Momin Khan teamed up with freshman
Dustin Ha to win 7-4 over UMW's Leese/Tecce duo.
In singles, with Mason ahead, 1-0, the Patriots picked up four more points, let by
Rithik Sardana at No. 2. He made quick work of Charan Shankar, winning in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.
At No. 3, Khan also easily dispatched of his opponent, taking down Tecce, 6-3, 6-4.
Junior
Herman Jentoft claimed victory at No. 4 in three sets. He won his first set over Leese, 7-5. After dropping the second, 3-6, he came back to win the third set, 6-4.
At No. 5 singles, Alrebdi took down Spera. He won the first set, 6-1, dropped the second 5-7, but came back to win the final, 6-2.
Mason returns to action on Sunday afternoon with a 4 p.m. contest at James Madison.
RESULTS
Doubles
#1: Charles/
Rithik Sardana (GMU) def. Hutchison/Desilva (UMW), 8-6
#2:
Rishab Sardana/Alrebdi (GMU) def. Charan Shankar/Spera (UMW), 8-5
#3: Khan/Ha (GMU) def. Leese/Tecce (UMW), 7-4
SINGLES
#1: Hutchison (UMW) def.
Rishab Sardana (GMU), 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
#2:
Rithik Sardana (GMU) def. Charan Shankar (UMW), 7-5, 6-4
#3: Khan (GMU) def. Tecce (UMW), 6-3, 6-4
#4: Jentoft (GMU) def. Leese (UMW), 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
#5: Alrebdi (GMU) def. Spera (UMW), 6-1, 5-7, 6-2
#6: Hart (UMW) def. Ha (GMU), 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
