ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A stout performance by the upper half of the ladder, including a 3-1 match winner by Jack Lentz (So, Philadelphia, Pa.), led the 16th-ranked Navy squash team to a 5-4 victory over No. 13 Virginia Wednesday evening at the Halsey Field House International Squash Courts in what was the Mids home opener. Navy improved to 3-0 with the victory, while the Cavaliers fell to 0-1.

After cruising to a pair of 9-0 victories last weekend over Stanford and Cal, the Mids knew they would have their hands full with the visiting Virginia Cavaliers in Wednesday night's match. While Navy came into the match having never lost to the Cavaliers, this would be the first match between the two programs since Virginia elevated its program to varsity status just a year ago.

A full house was in attendance to cheer on both teams, including a contingent of midshipmen, and saw what is likely to be one of the most entertaining matches the Mids will play this season.

The match opened up with Virginia's Glenn Yates and Grayson Bubrosky taking the first two matches by 3-0 counts at the No. 8 and 6 positions, respectively.

Navy countered by winning the next two to knot the match at 2-2. Michael Kacergis (Jr, Malvern, Pa.) knocked off decorated Virginia rookie Will Holey, a two-time U.S. silver national champion and three-time New England team champion, in a 3-1 decision at the No. 4 spot. Holey took the opening game, 11-9, however, Kacergis stayed the course and won the next three to win a pivotal match.

Meanwhile, Navy's No. 2 player Owen Davis (Jr, Rydal, Pa.) dealt the Cavs' Toby Hansford a 3-1 loss in what was Davis' first appearance of the 2018-19 campaign.

Rookie Ben Korn (Stevenson, Md.) not only improved to 3-0 on the year with his 3-0 victory over Virginia senior Henry Woodworth at No. 9, he gave the Mids their first lead in the match at 3-2.

Korn has provided Navy with a lift in the lineup through the first three matches showing little sign of letting up.

"The biggest difference for me personally at the college level is my preparation and attention to detail," said Korn. "Truly understanding what winning a match means to a program like the Naval Academy, well this is a huge win for us. I'm happy that I was able to put out the level of focus and consistency to be able to contribute to a great team win."

While Korn gave Navy a slight edge, Virginia answered at the No. 7 position with a 3-0 sweep by Andrew Braff.

Team captain Senen Ubina (Sr, Greenwich, Conn.) put Navy back on top by one at 4-3 with a spirited victory over William Braff at the No. 3 spot. Ubina jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Braff forced a fourth game thanks to an 11-6 win in the third. Ubina, with a little help from the crowd, would not be denied as he pushed past Braff in the fourth, 11-3, to secure the win.

With a 4-3 advantage, Navy needed to win one of the final two matches to earn the upset.

Senior Dylan Sweeney (Sr, New York, N.Y.), one of the winningest players in program history, dropped a hard-fought match to Virginia senior Jarett Odrich in five games at the No. 5 position.

With all eyes on the final match of the evening, Lentz, who won Navy's annual Barb Tournament a handful of weeks ago, met Virginia rookie Patrick McElroy, the 2016 U.S. National Junior U17 Boys Champion and a 2016 and 2017 U.S. Squash All-American, in the battle of No. 1 players for both programs.

Lentz got the better of McElroy in the first game, 11-5, before McElroy pulled even with an 11-9 victory in the second. Lentz cruised to an 11-3 win in the third, but closing out the match would not be easy as both players competed like veterans. Lentz held a sizable lead in the fourth game, but McElroy roared back and took the lead from Lentz. Though Lentz faced game point multiple times in the fourth, he went on to claim a 12-10 decision to seal the match victory for the Midshipmen.

Navy returns to action this weekend when it plays host to the first of two straight weekends of round robin play. Navy will open with a 7:00 pm match against No. 32 Fordham on Friday, followed by a pair of matches on Saturday against No. 26 Hobart (9:00 am) and No. 12 Western Ontario (2:30 pm). The Mids will close out the weekend on Sunday with a 10:00 am battle against Boston University. Admission is free for all matches.

Navy def. Virginia, 5-4
1 | Jack Lentz (N) def. Patrick McElroy (V), 11-5, 9-11, 11-3, 12-10
2 | Owen Davis (N) def. Toby Hansford (V), 11-7, 13-11, 5-11, 11-6
3 | Senen Ubina (N) def. William Braff (V), 11-3, 11-5, 6-11, 11-3
4 | Michael Kacergis (N) def. Will Holey (V), 9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-8
5 | Jarett Odrich (V) def. Dylan Sweeney (N), 8-11, 11-4, 4-11, 13-11, 11-8
6 | Grayson Bubrosky (V) def. Jamie Kjorlien (N), 11-8, 11-4, 11-8
7 | Andrew Braff (V) def. Ryan York (N), 11-5, 11-9, 11-1
8 | Glenn Yates (V) def. Danny Finnegan (N), 11-3, 11-7, 11-7
9 | Ben Korn (N) def. Henry Woodworth (V), 11-5, 11-8, 11-8
Exh | James Dudzik (V) def. Gus Prager (N), 11-8, 11-5, 11-2

### Go Navy ###