Koons Bounces Back, Clinches Match for Dukes in 4-3 Win Over Richmond

Friday, January 24

Harrisonburg, Va.

3 p.m.

James Madison University

Richmond

Koons Bounces Back, Clinches Match for Dukes in 4-3 Win Over Richmond

1/24/2020 8:51:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison defeated in-state rival Richmond 4-3 in a tight, back-and-forth match on Friday afternoon at the East Campus Tennis Courts.

The Dukes improved to 2-0 on the spring, while the Spiders fell to 1-1. It marked JMU's third straight victory against Richmond.

JMU earned the team victory by claiming the doubles point with wins by the #1 and #2 doubles tandems. After Richmond squared the match at 2-2, the Dukes won the next two singles matches, with one in come-from-behind fashion, to secure the victory.

Senior Paul Mendoza and freshman Holden Koons opened the match with a 6-1 win at #1 doubles. Juniors Alvaro Arce and Gonzalo Adis followed suit with a 6-2 triumph at #2 doubles to give JMU the early 1-0 lead.

In singles, Arce fell behind 3-0 before fighting back, winning the first set in a tie break. He later held off Klein Evans in the second, taking the win at #2 singles, 7-6(5), 6-4. The Spiders tied the match at two apiece with three-set wins at #1 and #3.

Senior Damon Roberts kicked off the second half of singles with a hard-fought 6-2, 6-2 win at #6 singles over Ricky Bell to put the Dukes back in front.

After dropping the first set 6-3, Koons stormed back at #4 singles, winning 12 of his next 13 games to rally past John Walsh by scores of 3-6, 6-0, 6-1, clinching the match for JMU. In the final decision of afternoon, Adis overcame a tough start at #5 singles, forcing a third set with a tie-break victory in the second, before falling in a super tiebreaker.

QUOTING HEAD COACH STEVE SECORD
"Our matches against Richmond the past three years have been close. They have a well-coached team and we have a lot of respect for them. I was happy to get the doubles point, but then Richmond started coming back, and it was a little frustrating. The guys responded well, especially Holden, after he lost the first set. He showed good composure and it's great to see. I think we'll do well in the conference, competing against teams like this."

UP NEXT
JMU will stay in the Commonwealth to close out the weekend, with a trip to Williamsburg to face CAA foe William & Mary on Sunday, Jan. 26. The match is set for a 1 p.m. start at the McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center.