JMU Drops Tough Sun Belt Opener to Troy

Friday, March 15

Harrisonburg, Va.

Noon

James Madison University

Troy

3/15/2024 2:57:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison battled tough from start to finish, but Troy was able to pull away late for a 4-1 win in Sun Belt Conference men's tennis action on Friday afternoon at Hillside Courts.

The Trojans improved to 15-3 on the year and 1-1 in Sun Belt play, while the Dukes fell to 7-6 this season and 0-1 in league play. The loss snapped JMU's six-match win streak, as Troy improved to 2-0 in the young series.

Troy captured the doubles point with wins on courts two and three and claimed three of four finishing singles courts en route to the win.

JMU was paced by Julian Lozano, who ran his singles win streak to five in a row, with his victory on court two.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Doubles Play

Troy took a 1-0 match lead with victories on courts three and two.
Luciano Alcocer and Mario Martinez rolled to a 6-1 win over Edson Sanchez and Harrison Lee, before the tandem of Carles Anton and Yeray Pastor pulled away from Markus Giersiepen and Youssef Sadek for a 6-3 victory.
On court one, JMU was a point away from clinching the match, as the duo of Esteve Agusti and Lozano led 40-15 while up 5-3 on Noah Martens and Nicolas Simkin.

Singles Play

Troy doubled its lead to 2-0 on court one, as Martinez won three straight games while up a set to down Sadek, 6-2, 6-3.
JMU got on the board on court two, as Lozano won two straight points down 30-40 in the final game, as he got past Anton, 6-1, 6-4.
Pastor had a big comeback in the second set on court four, as he rallied from down 5-2 to upend Giersiepen in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5.
The clinching point came on court three, as Martens slipped by Agusti, 6-4, 7-5. Martens was down 5-4 before reeling off three straight for the win.
Two other matches went unfinished in third sets, with each team leading in one.
On court six, Sanchez led Alcocer, 6-3, 4-6, 3-1, and on court five Francisco Sinopoli trailed Simkin, 6-4, 4-6, 0-5.

UP NEXT
JMU is back in action Sunday, March 17 at Hillside Courts, as the Dukes host South Alabama at 10 a.m.