Dukes Trounce The Citadel For First Win

Monday, January 21

Greenville, N.C.

9:00 a.m.

James Madison University

The Citadel

1/21/2019 1:20:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. – With a 7-0 victory on Monday morning, James Madison men's tennis beat The Citadel (0-6) to earn its first victory of the 2019 spring season.

In doubles, the Dukes (1-1) swept the Bulldogs. Freshman Eugene Clur and junior Josh Raymundo teamed up to cap off the sweep with a 7-5 victory over Noah Nawabi and Phillip Quinn.

JMU took the momentum into singles play, where senior Pierre Kohler and sophomore Alvaro Arce earned impressive victories. Kohler only dropped one game in rout to a 6-1, 6-0 win and Arce won 6-0, 6-2, capping his match off with a half-volley backhand lob. With the Dukes up 3-0, junior Paul Mendoza clinched the match with a 6-3, 6-2 win at the No. 3 singles slot.

"My opponent was good at dictating with his forehand, so my plan was to keep him moving around the court to make sure he wasn't able to plant his foot and unload," Mendoza said. "I played against the same opponent freshman year where I used the same tactic and it worked well for me today."

With the match clinched, junior Damon Roberts rolled a down-the-line approach shot to finish off his 6-3, 6-2 win. In the final two matches, junior Tate Steinour and Clur both came away with victories for their first singles wins of the young 2019 season. Steinour battled through a 6-4 first set before rolling in the second set, 6-0.

"Tate got up in the first set quick and Quinn responded well and made it close, but Tate didn't panic and trusted himself," head coach Steve Secord said. "He finished strong and took care of business in the second set."

Clur split the opening two sets 6-4, 4-6 before winning the 10-point tiebreaker 10-6 to earn his first collegiate win and complete the match sweep for JMU.

"It was good to see Eugene in action," Secord said. "I think he's getting a better idea of what we expect and what we're trying to accomplish as a team. I'm happy with how those two guys played and was also pleased with how the top four set the tone."

RESULTS
Doubles
1. Paul Mendoza/Tate Steinour (JMU) def. Willem Can Zyl/Gavin Stewart (Citadel) 6-3
2. Pierre Kohler/Alvaro Arce (JMU) def. Roy Hobson/Will Graham (Citadel) 6-1
3. Clur/Raymundo (JMU) def. Noah Nawabi/Phillip Quinn (Citadel) 7-5

Singles
1. Pierre Kohler (JMU) def. Roy Hobson (Citadel) 6-1, 6-0
2. Alvaro Arce (JMU) def. Jack Pyritz (Citadel) 6-0, 6-2
*3. Paul Mendoza (JMU) def. Willem Can Zyl (Citadel) 6-3, 6-2*
4. Damon Roberts (JMU) def. Noah Nawabi (Citadel) 6-3, 6-2
5. Eugene Clur (JMU) def. Gavin Stewart (Citadel) 6-4, 4-6, 10-6
6. Tate Steinour (JMU) def. Phillip Quinn (Citadel) 6-4, 6-0

* - Clinched match

QUOTING ASSISTANT COACH JASON SINKOFF
"Everyone came out with a lore more energy today right from the beginning. In doubles, we returned well and set up our partners at the net. In singles, we used good depth on our balls and when our opponent left the ball short we attacked and finished off the point. We definitely have a few things to fix this week before we play George Mason. Looking forward to a good week of practice."

UP NEXT
JMU will host George Mason on Jan. 25, at 1 p.m., for its home opener.