Spiders Claim Another 4-3 Victory Against Navy

Saturday, February 23

Annapolis, MD

1PM

University of Richmond

Navy

02/23/2019 | Men's Tennis

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The University of Richmond men's tennis team lost the doubles point and made a strong comeback to earn their sixth-straight win in a thrilling 4-3 victory against Navy Saturday at the Tose Family Tennis Center.

"I am so proud of how our guys fought in singles," head coach Houston Barrick said. "We were very disappointed with our energy level in doubles. Credit Navy for how they played but we just did not have the same level of energy we have had throughout the year so far. I challenged our guys after doubles and they responded."

The Spiders (8-2) dropped the doubles point for just the third time this season after losing two of three doubles matches. Navy's Jack Dabek and Andrew Ton, ranked No. 56 in doubles, earned a 6-1 win against freshman Josh Keitelman (Chevy Chase, Md.) and junior Matt Fernandez (Richmond, Va.) at No. 1 doubles.

The Midshipmen won the doubles point with a 6-3 win at No. 2 doubles as Peter Lohrbach and Derrick Thompson defeated junior George Lovitt (Marvin, N.C.) and freshman John Walsh (Bryn Mawr, Pa.).

Sophomore Joe Nardini (Arlington, Va.) and junior Klein Evans (Raleigh, N.C.) won 6-4 against Greg Durham and Cameron Kirkpatrick, 6-4, at No. 3 doubles.

In singles, the Spiders mounted a comeback starting with freshman Campbell Erwin (San Antonio, Texas) who won in straight sets against Kirkpatrick, 7-5, 6-3 at No. 6 singles.

At. No. 4 singles, Lovitt gave Richmond a 2-1 lead after winning against Lohrbach, 6-4, 6-1. Navy's Ton tied the match at 2-2 after defeating senior Brice Polender (Lake Bluff, Ill.), 6-3, 6-3.

Navy took a 3-2 lead when Thompson won in straight sets against Fernandez, 6-4, 7-5, at No. 2 singles. Evans tied the match back up at 3-3 with a 7-6 (4), 6-3, win against Durham, at No. 3 singles.

With the match tied at 3-3, Walsh battled back after dropping the first set 2-6, to clinch the win for the Spiders against Dabek, 7-5, 6-3 in the third set.

"I couldn't be happier for John," Barrick said. "He has struggled a little bit lately with his confidence but he has continued to work hard every day. I am so proud of him and he deserves all the success he had this weekend."

Richmond will face Liberty in the home opener at Westhampton Tennis Courts on Friday, March 1, at 1 p.m.

For more information about the Richmond men's tennis team visit RichmondSpiders.com or follow us on twitter at spidermten.

Richmond 4, Navy 3
Singles competition
1. Andrew Ton (NAVY) def. Brice Polender (RICH), 6-3, 6-3
2. Derrick Thompson (NAVY) def. Matt Fernandez (RICH), 6-4, 7-5
3. Klein Evans (RICH) def. Greg Durham (NAVY), 7-6 (4), 6-3
4. George Lovitt (RICH) def. Peter Lohrbach (NAVY), 6-4, 6-1
5. John Walsh (RICH) def. Jack Dabek (NAVY), 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3
6. Campbell Erwin (RICH) def. Cameron Kirkpatrick (NAVY), 7-5, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. #56 Dabek, Jack/Ton, Andrew (NAVY) def. Fernandez/Keitelman (RICH), 6-1
2. Lohrbach/Thompson (NAVY) def. Lovitt, George/Walsh (RICH), 6-3
3. Evans/Nardini (RICH) def. Durham/Kirkpatrick (NAVY), 6-4

Match Notes:
Richmond 8-2
Navy 11-5

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,4,1,2,3,5)

-UR-