JMU Suffers 7-0 Setback at Elon

Saturday, March 21

Elon, N.C.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

Elon

3/21/2015 7:37:00 PM | Men's Tennis

ELON, N.C. – James Madison men's tennis suffered a 7-0 setback at Elon on Saturday afternoon in Colonial Athletic Association as the Dukes fell to 4-8 on the spring with a 1-2 mark in league play. The Phoenix improved to 6-9 with a 1-0 record during their first CAA season.

Elon won 3-0 in doubles to clinch the point before winning all six singles matches, including the first five in two sets.

The day opened with straight 8-4 wins in doubles to clinch the point for the Phoenix. Jordan Kaufman and Robert Lindgren defeated juniors Robert Stirling and Maxi Branth at No. 2 doubles before Chris Humphreys and Josh Luck proved victorious against sophomore Brett Moorhead and freshman Stephen Goldman at No. 3 doubles. Sophomores Sebastian Salinas and Miljan Ruzic battled Stefan Fortmann and Brian Kowalski.

To open singles action, Goldman fell in straight 6-0 sets to Humphreys at the No. 6 position before Salinas dropped a two-set decision (6-4, 6-3) to Kaufman at the No. 2 position, giving the Phoenix a 3-0 lead. Kowalski secured match point for Elon with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Moorhead at No. 4 singles.

Ruzic was unable to overcome Luck at No. 5 singles, succumbing in two sets (6-4, 6-2). Branth battled Lindgren at No. 3 singles, but came up short at 7-6, 6-2.

At No. 1 singles, Stirling came back from a 1-0 deficit to Fortmann (6-0) to tie the match at 1-all with a 7-5 showing in set two. Fortmann, however, pulled out the win with a 10-5 mark in the set-three tiebreaker.

JMU returns to the courts on Tuesday, March 23, as the Dukes welcome Howard to Harrisonburg for their home opener. Match play begins at 2 p.m. at Hillside Courts.