ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Luke Garner (So., Arnold, Md.) and Aniketh Ayinala (Fr., Charlotte, N.C.) rallied after each dropped the first set of their respective singles matches to win three-set decisions and help the Navy men's tennis team (12-17, 1-0) to a 4-2 victory over Boston U. (8-10, 0-1), Sunday in Winchester, Mass.

The Mids also dropped a 6-2 decision to Long Island (4-11) Sunday morning in Annapolis.

"Great opening league match for the team today," said Navy head coach Chris Garner.  "Boston has a number of impressive newcomers as well as seasoned returning veterans."

Navy 4, Boston U. 2
The Mids began their league opener by earning the doubles point.  Nathan Nguyen (Fr., McLean, Va.) and Ayinala combined for a 6-4 win at No. 3 doubles over Adrian Pawlowski and Johann Sajonz in the first match to finish.  Garner and Sasha Panyan (Jr., Lutherville, Md.) then secured the point when the pair won a 6-3 decision against Alejandro Licea and Dion Loutas at the No. 1 flight.

Navy's No. 2 team of Nicholas Nguyen (Jr., McLean, Va.) and Gavin Segraves (Sr., Charlottesville, Va.) held a 5-3 lead over Jonah Dickson and Cole Knutsen in its match when play was halted due to the doubles point being determined.

"In doubles," said Garner, "our teams were able to hold their serve and capitalize on some small openings to take the point."

The Terriers evened the score at 1-1 when Knutsen defeated Nicholas Nguyen, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1, at No. 4 singles.  Panyan regained the lead for the Mids with his 6-4, 6-3 victory over Loutas at No. 1 singles.  Garner followed with a 0-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Licea at the No. 3 flight to make the score 3-1.  Corey kept the match going when he beat Segraves, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 2 singles.

Ayinala concluded play when he rallied past Dickson, 4-6, 6-0, 6-4, at No. 5 singles.

Nathan Nguyen trailed Ben Letzer, 7-6 (7-5), 6-6, at No. 6 singles in the final match remaining on the courts.

"Singles was competitive up and down the lineup," said Garner.  "Aniketh and Luke came up big for us with coming back from first-set losses.  Sasha also played very well to us our second point."

Long Island 6, Navy 1
Navy's No. 1 doubles team of Finn Garner (Sr., Arnold, Md.) and Christian Pumpelly (Sr., Atlanta, Ga.) registered a 6-1 win in its match, but Long Island won at the remaining two flights to take a 1-0 lead.

The Sharks increased their advantage to 3-0 before Pumpelly posted a 7-6 (7-0), 6-2 win at No. 2 singles to keep the Mids alive.  Long Island would win three-set matches at Nos. 5, 3 and 1 singles to earn the victory.

Up Next
Navy will play host to Lehigh and play at Rider on April 1, then will play at Loyola and William & Mary on April 2.

Navy 4, Boston U. 2
Doubles -- Navy wins the doubles point (3-1)
1. Garner, Luke / Panyan, Sasha (Navy) def. Licea, Alejandro / Loutas, Dion, 6-3
2. Nguyen, Nicholas / Segraves, Gavin (Navy) vs. Dickson, Jonah / Knutsen, Cole, 5-3, unfinished 
3. Nguyen, Nathan / Ayinala, Aniketh (Navy) def. Pawlowski, Adrian / Sajonz, Johnann, 6-4
Singles (4-1-3-2-5)
1. Panyan, Sasha (Navy) def. Loutas, Dion, 6-4, 6-3
2. Craig, Corey (Bos) def. Segraves, Gavin, 6-3, 6-4
3. Garner, Luke (Navy) def. Licea, Alejandro, 0-6, 6-2, 6-4
4. Knutsen, Cole (Bos) def. Nguyen, Nicholas, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1
5. Ayinala, Aniketh (Navy) def. Dickson, Jonah, 4-6, 6-0, 6-4
6. Letzer, Ben (Bos) vs. Nguyen, Nathan, 7-6 (7-5), 6-6, unfinished

Long Island 6, Navy 1
Doubles -- LIU wins the doubles point (1-3-2)
1. Garner, Finn / Pumpelly, Christian (Navy) def. Indrabalan, Akhil / Ishchanka, Danila, 6-1
2. D'Anna, Ales / Hilble, Philip (LIU) def. Buckingham, Graydon / McNair, Matthew, 6-3
3. Fernandez Romera, Sergio / Nergizoglu, Tuna (LIU) def. Carol, Dylan / Liu, Eric, 6-3
Singles (6-4-2-5-3-1)
1. Hilble, Philip (LIU) def. Legaspi, Herrick, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
2. Pumpelly, Christian (Navy) def. Fernandez Romera, Sergio, 7-6 (7-0), 6-2
3. Ishchanka, Danila (LIU) def. McNair, Matthew, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
4. D'Anna, Ales (LIU) def. Liu, Eric, 6-1, 6-0
5. Medeiros, Gui (LIU) def. Buckingham, Graydon, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
6. Hornung, Lucas (LIU) def. Carol, Dylan, 6-0, 6-1