JMU Opens Spring Duals with 1-1 Split at VCU 4+1 Event

Friday, January 20

Richmond, Va.

10 a.m.

James Madison University

Howard

1/20/2017 11:28:00 PM | Men's Tennis

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RICHMOND, Va. – James Madison men's tennis opened the spring dual slate 1-1 at the VCU 4+1 tournament. The Dukes kicked things off with a 5-0 victory over Howard, all in two sets, before suffering a 5-0 setback to Charlotte.

Freshman Damon Roberts got the first win of the spring by taking down the Bison's Karim Shakeir in straight 6-1 sets. In the day's second match, he was the lone Duke to take his Charlotte foe a full three sets, despite the loss.

Seniors Alex Berdnikoff and Miljan Ruzic earned their first win as a duo this year with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Howard's Laguna Foster, Jr. and Cole Gittens.

This marks the second consecutive spring season the Dukes have opened with a victory after a 7-0 win over Delaware. JMU has also faced Howard each of the last five seasons and has won all five meetings. This

JMU 5 Howard 0
Doubles
1. Alex Berdnikoff/Miljan Ruzic (JMU) def. Laguna Foster Jr./Cole Gittens (HU), 6-3, 7-5
Singles
1. Theophile Lanthiez (JMU) def. Ismael Kaouache (HU), 6-4, 6-4
2. Sebastian Salinas (JMU) def. William Jones III (HU), 6-4, 6-4
3. Damon Roberts (JMU) def. Karim Shakeir (HU), 6-1, 6-1
4. Tate Steinour (JMU) def. Spencer Kelly (HU), 6-4, 6-2
Order of finish: 3, 4, Doubles, 1, 2

Charlotte 5 JMU 0
Doubles
1. Constandinos Christoforou/Max Benaim (CHAR) def. Miljan Ruzic/Alex Berdnikoff (JMU), 7-6(4), 6-2
Singles
1. Sam Rice (CHAR) def. Theophile Lanthiez (JMU), 6-2, 6-1
2. Leonardo Menezes (CHAR) def. Sebastian Salinas (JMU), 6-4, 6-0
3. Alejandro Garcia (CHAR) def. Damon Roberts (JMU), 5-7, 6-0, 6-2
4. Oriol Puig (CHAR) def. Brett Moorhead (JMU), 6-1, 7-6
Order of finish: 1, Doubles, 4, 2, 3

UP NEXT
The Dukes head back to the middle of the state on Friday, Jan. 27 to take on George Mason in a neutral site match. JMU faces the Patriots at 6 p.m. in Midlothian, Va. next week.