Box Score (PDF)
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men's tennis team nearly pulled off a big win over Navy Sunday but came up just short, falling to the Midshipmen 4-3 at the Mason Tennis Courts.
The Patriots dropped the doubles point, but did pick up a win at No. 3, courtesy of freshmen
Monil Lotlikar and
Alvaro Pedraza. They picked up a 6-4 win over Grayden Buckingham and Dylan Carol.
Navy took a 2-0 lead after a win at No. 5, but Mason climbed back with a victory from graduate
Rishab Sardana at No. 3. He won the first set, 6-2 over Nicholas Nguyen, then took the second with a 7-2 win in tiebreaker action. He has now won his past three singles matches.
The Patriots tied it up at 2-2 after a straight sets win from freshman
Zavan Fahim at No. 6 (6-3, 6-3).
Navy took a 3-2 edge with a win at No. 4, then clinched the match with a three-set win at No. 2.
Senior
Rithik Sardana picked up Mason's third point of the day with a big time win over J.J. Etterbeek. He won the first set, 6-1, then after falling in a second set tiebreak, took down Etterbeek 6-3 in the third and deciding set. Sardana has won five of his last seven dual singles matches.
The Patriots return home Saturday for a 10 a.m. contest vs. St. Bonaventure.