H-SC TENNIS FELLS SECOND STRAIGHT RANKED OPPONENT, DOWNS NO. 14 METHODIST FAYETTEVILLE, VA (March 26, 2008)–Just one day after knocking off regionally ranked Averett University, Hampden-Sydney's tennis team pulled together once more to score another stirring victory, this time outlasting Atlantic South Region No. 14 Methodist University, 6-3 in Fayetteville, NC. The electric match up between the two schools produced a trio of three set singles matches and two doubles matches decided by three games or less. The win propels Hampden-Sydney to a 7-1 record, while Methodist falls to 3-6 on the season. The grueling tone to the match was set in the early moments, with the Tigers claiming a 2-1 lead after doubles competition. Hampden-Sydney's top duo of sophomore Will Moss (Fredericksburg, VA/Fredericksburg) and freshman Rich Pugh (Augusta, GA/Lakeside) battled to a gutsy 8-6 win in No. 1 doubles over the Monarchs' pair of Chris Fletcher and Matthew Taylor. Tigers' freshmen Shad Harrell (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) and Zack Pack (Keysville, VA/Randolph-Henry) followed suit, teaming up to score an 8-3 doubles victory in the second tier match up. Methodist cut into the Hampden-Sydney lead with an 8-5 win at No. 3 doubles. In singles, Methodist figured to rally behind their leader in Fletcher, as the No. 5 regionally ranked singles player defeated H-SC's Moss 6-2, 6-1 in the top singles match. However, Pugh and Harrell notched convincing victories at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, dispatching of their opponents 6-1, 6-1 and 6-1, 6-3, respectively to spearhead the Tigers' efforts. Freshman Tal Covington (Gainesville, VA/Flint Hill School) rallied to earn a 6-7, 6-3, 6-0 triumph over Methodist No. 5 hitter Jarrod Bogard while senior Andrew McLeod (Mandeville, Jamaica/Manchester) sealed the deal with a courageous 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 rally of his own over the Monarchs' Neil Perron. Hampden-Sydney will return to ODAC competition on Friday, March 28 when it hosts Bridgewater College at 3:30 pm.
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