Dukes Roll Past Queens, Fall to Virginia Tech to Open Spring Slate

Sunday, January 15

Blacksburg, Va.

9 a.m.

James Madison University

Queens

Dukes Roll Past Queens, Fall to Virginia Tech to Open Spring Slate

1/15/2023 8:24:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BLACKSBURG, Va. – James Madison men's tennis split its first two dual matches of the 2023 spring season on Sunday at the Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center, cruising to a 6-1 victory against Queens while dropping a 6-1 decision to host Virginia Tech.

The Dukes (1-1) were led by freshman Francisco Sinopoli, who won three total matches, including both of his singles matchups. His first career singles win also clinched the Sunday morning victory against Queens.

Three other Dukes collected two total wins in Holden Koons, Julian Lozano and Edson Sanchez.

JMU 6, Queens 1
JMU swept all three doubles matches and won five of six singles matches to upend Queens 6-1 in Sunday's spring opener.

The Dukes opened with a trio of 6-3 doubles wins to take the early 1-0 lead against the Royals (0-1). Koons and Lozano defeated Edoardo Bottino and Win Steveker on court one, while Sanchez and Sinopoli bested Laurenz Blickwede and Edoardo Cecere to clinch the point. The team of Youssef Sadek and Canon Secord wrapped up the clean sheet with a triumph over Euan Lynes and Quinton McNamara.

In singles play, Queens tied the match at 1-1 with a win on court four before Koons gave the lead back to JMU for good with a 6-2, 6-1 victory against Cecere on court one. Shortly after, Lozano extended the lead to 3-1, taking down Bottino on court two, 6-4, 6-3.

JMU clinched the match on court three. Sinopoli capped off his strong start, winning a 6-2, 6-4 decision over Blickwede. Mario Pena won a tight match on court six, fending off Filippo Ercole, 6-4, 7-5.

Sanchez closed out the morning with a thrilling win on court six. Down a set, he forced a third frame and overcame two match points while down 6-5 to Milan Gonela before ultimately claiming the match in a tiebreak, by scores of 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3).

Virginia Tech 6, JMU 1
Virginia Tech controlled the pace in the second match of the day for both teams, as the Hokies (2-0) beat the Dukes, 6-1, on Sunday evening.

VT opened the match with a pair of doubles wins to take the early 1-0 lead. The Hokies won 6-1 on both courts two and three, while court one's match featuring JMU's Koons and Lozano and VT's Jordan Chrysostom and Ryan Fishback went unfinished at 4-4.

In singles, the hosts were able to clinch the win with four straight-set victories. Frank Thompson defeated Aathreya Mahesh, 6-3, 6-3, on court six, while Michael Shepheard beat Sadek, 6-2, 6-4, on court four.

The Hokies secured the win on court five, with Alberto Orso taking a 6-3, 6-4 decision from Sanchez. They extended the lead to 5-0 on court two, as Hugo Maia held off Lozano, 7-5, 6-2.

Virginia Tech got its final win on court one, as Koons dropped a heartbreaker in a super tiebreaker. He fell to Fishback by scores of 6-3, 2-6, 1-0 (7).

JMU got its lone point from court three, as Sinopoli battled back for a 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (1) victory against Manuel Goncalves.

Up Next
JMU heads to Richmond, Va., for another doubleheader on Sunday, Jan. 22, as it takes on VCU at 9 a.m. and Morgan State in a neutral-site match at noon.