Spiders Best Flames in Dramatic Fashion, 4-3

Friday, January 26

Lynchburg, VA

4PM

University of Richmond

Liberty

01/26/2018 | Men's Tennis

LYNCHBURG, Va. – For the second time in as many matches, University of Richmond men's tennis sophomore Klein Evans was the last man standing.

This time, he was able to defeat Liberty's Alex Poynter 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 to clinch the first dual-match win of the season for the Spiders on Friday night.

"Tonight was a total team effort," head coach Houston Barrick said after the win. "Losing the doubles point was disappointing, but we came out in singles and won the first three matches. I felt like that changed the momentum of the match."

Liberty jumped out to a 1-0 lead after taking the doubles point with wins on courts 1 and 2.

The Spiders then took control in singles action. Senior James Aronson took a dominant win at No. 4 with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Vince Salas, before sophomore Matt Fernandez gave the Spiders the lead with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Chase Burton on court 2.

Senior Caleb Troy continued his winning ways at No. 1, this time in comeback fashion, as he bested Sam Matheson, 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 to make it 3-1 in favor of the Spiders.

The Flames mounted a comeback with victories on courts 3 and 6, but Evans finished the job in the third and final set to clinch the team win.

"James was huge for us in being able to put a point up on the board early, and I couldn't be prouder of Klein," Barrick said. "There were so many opportunities for him to lose his composure and get negative. But he fought hard until the very last point, and he played with so much heart. I'm just so happy the guys pulled out a great win on the road against a very good team."

The Spiders have a quick turnaround, as they return to Richmond to face Atlantic 10 foe Dayton on Saturday morning, January 27. Match time is set for 9 a.m. at the VCU Bubble.

Richmond 4, Liberty 3
SINGLES
1. Caleb Troy (UR) def. Sam Matheson (LU) – 1-6, 6-1, 6-2
2. Matt Fernandez (UR) def. Chase Burton (LU) – 6-4, 6-3
3. Eddie Gutierrez (LU) def. John Karlawish (UR) – 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
4. James Aronson (UR) def. Vince Salas (LU) – 6-1, 6-0
5. Klein Evans (UR) def. Alex Poynter (LU) – 6-3, 5-7, 7-5
6. Diego Castano (UR) def. George Lovitt (UR) – 6-4, 6-2
Order of Finish: 4, 2, 1, 3, 6, 5

DOUBLES
1. Diego Castano/Alex Poynter (LU) def. Caleb Troy/James Aronson (UR) – 6-0
2. Eddie Gutierrez/Vince Salas (LU) def. Brice Polender/George Lovitt (UR) – 6-4
3. Chase Burton/Sam Matheson (LU) vs. Matt Fernandez/Klein Evans (UR) – 5-5 (DNF)
Order of Finish: 1, 2