Box Score (PDF)

BURKE, Va. – The George Mason University men's tennis team (1-2) dropped a 5-2 match to James Madison (5-2) on Saturday night at the Burke Racquet and Swim Club.
 
The Patriots won two of three doubles matches to begin the event. Mason's No. 2 tandem of graduate student Rishab Sardana and sophomore Niza Simunyola took down JMU's team of Julian Lozano and Francisco Sinopoli, 6-4. Sardana and Simunyola have won two of their three dual matches to begin the spring slate.
 
At No. 3, freshmen Zavan Fahim and Alvaro Pedraza clinched the point with a 6-4 triumph over Youssef Sadek and Edson Sanchez.
 
"The guys fought hard today," head coach Jimmy Davis said. "We gave ourselves a good chance after winning the doubles point, but the slow start to singles got the best of us. We're improving with each match we play and we all feel confident we are a couple matches away from being in full form. Our freshmen have added a lot of energy and talent to our roster. They're only going to continue getting stronger with each match we play."
 
In singles, the Dukes won five of six matches. Simunyola picked up the Mason point at No. 6 singles, where he took an 8-3 win over Aathreya Mahesh.
 
The Patriots are back in action next Sunday (Feb. 19), when Mason heads to Richmond for a 4 p.m. match with preseason A-10 favorite VCU.