April 18, 2006
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy tennis team won four-of-six singles matches and two of the three doubles matches to ease past UMBC, 5-2, on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon at the Naval Academy Tennis Courts in the final tune-up before Saturday's clash with Army. The win improves Navy's overall record to 13-9, assuring the Mids of their third straight winning season. UMBC falls to 8-11 with the loss.
Navy won two doubles matches in convincing fashion to claim the team point. At No. 2 doubles, Stanley Kahl and Adrian Lai teamed up for an 8-2 victory over James Tyler and Mehrban Iranshad. The victory improves the pair's record to 8-10 this spring and 16-12 overall. At No. 3 doubles, freshmen Jason Hill and Johnny Waters continued their stellar season with an 8-3 win over Djan Gusmao and Nick Savage-Pollack. Hill and Waters have combined for an 11-4 this spring.
In singles action, Navy won four matches, with three of them coming in straight sets. Freshman Nate Nelms evened his record to 10-10 with an impressive win over David Jackson, 6-3, 6-1, at No. 1. Lai also played very strong, winning his fifth match in a row with a 6-1, 6-3, win over Tyler at No. 3. The win improves Lai's spring record to 13-7 and his overall record for the entire year to 25-10. Stanley Kahl was the last Mid to win in straight sets, defeating Leif Hallowell at No. 6 singles, 7-5, 6-3. Kahl pushed his record to 10-8 with the victory.
Navy's other win came at No. 2 singles, where Jason Hill outlasted Savage-Pollock, 6-3, 2-6, 12-10, at No. 2 singles.
The Mids' two losses in singles play came at Nos. 4 and 5 singles. Waters dropped a 4-6, 6-3, 10-5, decision to Ifran Shamasdin and James lost to Iranshad, 7-6 (5), 6-2. Waters' loss ended a three-match win streak for the plebe from Omaha, Neb.
Navy and Army will tangle on Saturday, April 22, beginning at 1:00 p.m., at the Naval Academy Tennis Courts.
# GO NAVY #
