JMU Splits Doubleheader in Richmond with VCU and Morgan State

Sunday, January 22

Richmond, Va.

9 a.m.

James Madison University

VCU

JMU Splits Doubleheader in Richmond with VCU and Morgan State

1/22/2023 3:51:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

RICHMOND, Va. – James Madison men's tennis competed in its second doubleheader in as many weekends, falling 5-0 to VCU before bouncing back with a 4-0 triumph against Morgan State on Sunday at the Thalhimer Tennis Center on VCU's campus.

The Dukes moved to 2-2 on the season with the split, as VCU improved to 3-0 and Morgan State fell to 0-1.

VCU 5, JMU 0
VCU controlled the pace throughout most of the match en route to a 5-0 victory against the Dukes.

In doubles play, the Rams claimed matches on courts two and three by identical 6-2 margins. On court one, the team of Holden Koons and Julian Lozano led Charles and Maxence Bertimon 4-2 before the VCU tandem reeled off four straight to rally for a 6-4 victory.

The Rams used that momentum into singles play, as it quickly clinched the match with three straight-set wins. Rayane Stable cruised past Edson Sanchez, 6-0, 6-2, on court four to double the lead. VCU made it 3-0 on court three, as Maxence Bertimon downed Lozano, 6-1, 6-3.

Francisco Sinopoli hung tough with 40th-ranked Matisse Bobichon in the opening frame, before the Ram pulled away for a 6-4, 6-1 victory on court two to clinch the win for the hosts.

The match of the morning belonged to center court, as Koons and Charles Bertimon battled to a third-set super tiebreaker. After dropping the first set, Koons won five of six games to force a third. In the super, Bertimon fended off Koons, 10-8 to win the match by scores of 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (8).

The final two matches on courts five and six went unfinished. On court five, Youssef Sadek led Etienne Marty, 6-4, while Mario Pena was down 6-1 to Gray Voelzke.

JMU 4, Morgan State 0
JMU flipped the switch in match two, winning a pair of doubles matches and three singles bouts while playing a clinch-clinch format.

JMU opened its second match of the day with convincing doubles wins on courts three and one to gain the early 1-0 lead. Aathreya Mahesh and Canon Secord picked up a dominant 6-1 win against Makkijha Brown and Bertin Karenzi. The team of Koons and Sinopoli clinched the doubles point with a 6-2 victory against Mikeal Carpenter and Sebastian Lopez.

In singles play, the Dukes took care of business quickly, winning three straight-set matches to finish the weekend.

Lozano upended Rhajzon Rankins by a score of 6-3, 6-1 on court three to double JMU's lead. Moments later, Koons dropped Carpenter after conceding jusr three total games, winning on court one by a 6-1, 6-2 margin.

Sinopoli clinched the win on court two shortly after, defeating Lopez, 6-2, 6-2. In both wins this season, Sinopoli has won the decisive point for JMU, but this was his first playing at the No. 2 slot.

Sadek's match on court four went unfinished with Niles Rachal, as he trailed 0-6, 4-2. The final two singles matches did not start with the match being in hand.

Quoting Assistant Coach Bastien Huon
"After a tough battle versus VCU in the morning, the guys responded with a lot of determination this afternoon against Morgan State. We did a great job of taking care of business by putting the pressure on from the very beginning and handling big moments very efficiently."

Up Next
JMU opens its home slate in two weeks with a pair of bouts at East Campus Tennis Courts. The Dukes host Navy on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 10 a.m., followed by Mount St. Mary's on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 1 p.m.