Jan. 22, 2011

Final Stats

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy men's tennis team opened its spring season with a 6-1 win over Saint Francis (Pa.) on Saturday at the Tose Family Tennis Center. The Mids won five of six singles matches and two of the three in doubles.

"There were some bright spots today," said Navy head coach John Officer. "Overall, I felt we could have played better. I think we've been practicing very well and came into the match today feeling confident."

Navy's Matt Richmond was the first Mid to win in singles play as he quickly defeated Matthew Jurjevich, 6-0, 6-0.

Junior Marcus Rebersak followed in No. 2 singles with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Steve Robinson. Zach Nicholson then defeated Youlian Natchev, 6-3, 6-1, in No. 3 singles.

Owen Bullard, Navy's returning first-team all-league honoree from a season ago, got off to a good start in 2011 as he downed Ehlan Pogue, 6-4, 6-2, in No. 1 singles.

Navy's Nicholas Gutsche picked up the final victory of the day with a pair of 6-2 wins over Kirby Mendes at No. 5 singles.

Saint Francis got its only point of the day at No. 4 singles where Steve Kowalski used three sets to down Jeremy New, 3-6, 7-5, 10-6.

"Our highlights were our No. 1 and 2 players," said Officer. "They played very dominating tennis today. We were also good at No. 5 and 6, and Zach Nicholson played a solid match."

In doubles action, Navy's Chris Kenney and Heyward Drayton defeated Kowalski and Jurjevich, 8-2, and Anderson Walls and Rebersak followed with an 8-1 win over Mendes and Natchev.

The Red Flash did manage one doubles win as Pogue and Nate Fleming defeated Nick Birger and Mike Eisenberg, 8-6.

The Midshipmen will return to action next Saturday when they host St. Joseph's at 12 p.m. at the Tose Family Tennis Center.

Navy 6, Saint Francis (Pa.) 1
Doubles (3-2-1)
1. Pogue / Fleming (SFU) def. Birger / Eisenberg (Navy), 8-6
2. Walls / Rebersak (Navy) def. Mendes / Natchev (SFU), 8-1
3. Kenney / Drayton (Navy) def. Kowalski / Jurjevich (SFU), 8-2

Singles (6-2-3-1-5-4)
1. Bullard (Navy) def. Pogue (SFU), 6-4, 6-2
2. Rebersak (Navy) def. Robinson (SFU), 6-2, 6-0
3. Nicholson (Navy) def. Natchev (SFU), 6-3, 6-1
4. Kowalski (SFU) def. New (Navy), 6-3, 5-7, 10-6
5. Gutsche (Navy) def. Mendes (SFU), 6-2, 6-2
6. Richmond (Navy) def. Jurjevich (SFU), 6-0, 6-0