Men's and women's tennis win in impressive fashion in California

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Salisbury University tennis teams picked up a pair of convincing victories on Wednesday in California. The women opened the day with a 9-0 victory against University of La Verne while the No. 30 men closed out the day with an 8-1 victory against Whittier College.

The men (4-3, 1-0 Capital Athletic Conference) swept their doubles matches to open up a 3-0 lead against Whittier. The three doubles teams faced little resistance as the closest match came at No. 2 doubles where sophomore Daniel Barnas (La Plata, Md.) and junior Andrew Nottage (Huntingtown, Md.) claimed an 8-4 victory. The teams of seniors Scott Burtlaff (Clarksville, Md.)/Evan Thomas (Salisbury, Md.) and junior David Lupinetti (Walkersville, Md.)/senior Marcus Robinson (Cambridge, Md.) won 8-2 and 8-1, respectively.

The Sea Gulls won five of the six singles matches, but were forced to go three sets to claim two of the wins. Robinson went the distance at No. 6 earning a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory and sophomore Giorgio Athans (Woolwich Township, N.J.) claimed a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 win at No. 5 singles. Lupinetti, Barnas and Nottage won in straight sets.

The women (5-0, 1-0 CAC) earned their second shutout of the 2010 season, matching the 9-0 win they came up with against York (Pa.) College to open the season.

The teams will play their final matches on the west coast on Thursday, when they take on California Lutheran University in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.