April 13, 2008

Final Stats

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Victories in a trio of tiebreakers helped the Navy tennis team record a 6-1 victory over George Washington Sunday afternoon at the U.S. Naval Academy Tennis Courts.

"We had a nice win today," said Navy head coach John Officer. "George Washington was the number one seed in the recent Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament, so we are very pleased to have beaten a quality team."

Navy (17-8) earned the doubles point with wins in each of the three matches. First to finish was Navy's No. 2 team of Alex James (Sr., Visalia, Calif.) and Ramsey Lemaich (So., Danville, Calif.), who won an 8-3 decision over the duo of Erik Hannah and Yan Levinski, with Nick Birger (Fr., Belleville, Ill.) and Jason Hill (Jr., Marietta, Ga.) next posting an 8-4 win over Elliott Daniels and Mark Doumba at No. 3 doubles.

Navy's No. 1 team of Nate Nelms (Jr., St. Mary's Ga.) and Johnny Waters (Jr., Papillion, Neb.) completed the sweep as they rallied from being down one break of serve to edge Sam Salyer and Ryan Schlachter by the score of 9-7.

"We played very well today, starting right away with our doubles teams," said Officer. "Nate and Johnny did a good job of coming back after losing their serve."

The Mids quickly went up by the score of 2-0 when Yan Levinski was forced to retire from his match against Nelms at No. 1 singles. Nelms held a 5-0 lead in the first set when Levinski retired. Victories by Lemaich over Doumba at No. 4 singles (6-2, 6-3) and by James over Daniels at No. 5 singles (6-2, 6-2) clinched the overall victory for the Mids.

Hill would go on to rally after losing the first set of his No. 3 singles match to Hannah (6-3) to win a second set tiebreaker by the score of 7-5 and force a third set. The duo played a tiebreaker to 10 points instead of a complete third set, with Hill eventually winning the breaker by the score of 10-6 and the match.

Navy's final point was won by Owen Bullard (Fr., Concord, N.C.), who outlasted Chris Kushma, 6-3, 6-7 (1-7), 1-0 (16-14) at No. 6 singles. Bullard fought off three match points before prevailing.

George Washington's (13-8) lone victory came when Sam Salyer recorded a 6-0, 6-2 win over Waters at No. 2 singles.

"Nate looked good at number one singles and Jason did a good job to come back to win his match at number two," said Officer. "Ramsey and Alex also were sharp and put together solid wins, and Owen did a good job to battle back and win his match."

Navy will close the regular season April 19 when the Mids play host to Army in the Star Match. Weather permitting, the 1 p.m. match will be held on The Yard.

In addition to the match deciding the Star, the winner also should receive the No. 1 seed - and a first round bye - in the following week's Patriot League Tournament.

"We are excited to play Army next week, and we scheduled today's match against George Washington to help prepare us for Army," said Officer. "Today was our first outdoor match of the year at home and that too was a nice preparation for next week's Star Match."

Navy (17-8) def. George Washington (13-8), 6-1
Doubles - Navy wins the doubles point (match finish order: 2-3-1)
1 - Nelms / Waters (N) def. Sam Salyer / Ryan Schlachter, 9-7
2 - James / Lemaich (N) def. Hannah / Yan Levinski, 8-3
3 - Nick Birger / Hill (N) def. Daniels / Doumba, 8-4

Singles (match finish order: 1-4-5-2-3-6)
1 - Nate Nelms (N) def. Yan Levinski, 5-0, retired
2 - Sam Salyer (GW) def. Johnny Waters, 6-0, 6-2
3 - Jason Hill (N) def. Erik Hannah, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 1-0 (10-6)
4 - Ramsey Lemaich (N) def. Mark Doumba, 6-2, 6-3
5 - Alex James (N) def. Elliott Daniels, 6-2, 6-2
6 - Owen Bullard (N) def. Chris Kushma, 6-3, 6-7 (1-7), 1-0 (16-14)