SU takes down No. 20 Christopher Newport, 7-2
SALISBURY, Md. - It was an exciting day at the Salisbury University outdoor tennis courts as the Sea Gull men's team, ranked No. 26 in the country, hosted No. 20 Christopher Newport University before a spirited crowd of over 130. SU gutted out a 7-2 win over the Captains after four hours of play on Thursday.
Salisbury (10-1) entered the contest ranked nationally for the first time in eight years. The win over the Captains is the second time this year SU has defeated a nationally ranked team. SU defeated No. 30 Pomona-Pitzer during Spring Break.
SU is ranked No. 11 in the Atlantic South region while CNU (9-2) checks in at No. 5 in the region.
Senior Brendan Kincaid clinched the win for the Gulls as he won at No. 1 singles. Kincaid, ranked No. 13 in singles in the region, was pushed by CNU's Eddie Glidewell, ranked No. 12 in the region, but held on to win 7-5, 7-5. Salisbury sophomores Scott Burtzlaff and Evan Thomas earned points for SU at No. 3 and No. 4 singles, respectively. Burtzlaff, the CAC Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week, defeated Jacob Braig 6-0, 7-6 (8-6). Thomas won 6-2, 6-3 over CNU's Lorenzo Sison. SU junior Sasha Felikson defeated Dusty Nelson 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) at No. 6 singles.
CNU's lone point in singles came at No. 5 singles as Ricky Connor took down freshman David Lupinetti in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.
The most thrilling match of the night was at No. 2 singles. Salisbury's Matt Nicholson and CNU's John Mook battled for over two hours into Thursday evening. Nicholson, ranked No. 10 in the region, won a second set tiebreaker 7-3 to force a third set. He eventually won 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-3), 6-3.
The Sea Gulls jumped out to a 2-1 lead after doubles play to begin the match. Kincaid and Burtzlaff, ranked No. 10 in the region at doubles, took down CNU's No. 1 doubles team Glidewell and Mook, ranked No. 3 in the region, 8-4. Nicholson and Thomas rallied to win a huge point at No. 2 doubles with an 8-5 win over Nelson and Sison. The Captains' No. 3 doubles team of Jacob and John Braig beat SU's Andrew Nottage and Marcus Robinson, 8-4.
SU will hope to ride this momentum into Saturday's showdown with Capital Athletic Conference rival and No. 10 University of Mary Washington on the road at 3 p.m. The Eagles are ranked No. 2 in the Atlantic South region.
