NATIONAL NO. 24 CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT TAMES TENNIS TIGERS NEWPORT NEWS, VA (April 15, 2008)–Regional No. 8 singles player Will Moss (Fredericksburg, VA/Fredericksburg) and Tigers' freshman Rich Pugh (Augusta, GA/Lakside) each scored singles victories after notching a No. 1 doubles win, but it was not enough as Hampden-Sydney's tennis team dropped their first match since March 25, falling to national No. 24 Christopher Newport University, 6-3 in Newport News yesterday afternoon. The Captains, also ranked No. 5 in the Atlantic South Region, stopped a seven match Hampden-Sydney winning streak, but had to fight hard to subdue a game Tiger squad. Hampden-Sydney, the No. 2 seed in the upcoming ODAC Tournament, closes out the regular season with a 12-2 overall record, and will await the release of the latest ITA Regional Rankings this afternoon to hopefully become the first H-SC tennis team to earn a ranking. Moss and Pugh kicked off the afternoon with a gritty 8-5 victory over Christopher Newport's Dusty Nelson and Lorenzo Sison at No. 1 doubles. The Captains, however, pulled out a 8-5 win at No. 2 doubles and cruised to a 8-3 triumph at No. 3 to take an early 2-1 advantage. Moss and Pugh delivered again in singles play, with Moss defeating regional No. 12 Eddie Glidwell in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2 and Pugh using a second set tiebreak to dispatch the Captains' Jacob Braig, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1). Despite dropping the top two singles matches, Christopher Newport bounced back, scoring victories in the final four slots, including a tough win for Christopher Newport No. 5 hitter Ricky Conner, who overcame Hampden-Sydney's Tal Covington (Gainesville, VA/Flint Hill School) in a second set tiebreak, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8). Hampden-Sydney will host its first round match of the 2008 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament, beginning on Wednesday, April 16. Continue to check the Hampden-Sydney athletics website for match scheduling updates.
Singles www.hsc.edu/athletics |