Spiders tally first wins of the season at West Point

The University of Richmond men’s tennis team secured its first two wins of the season in three weekend matchups at West Point. The Spiders secured a 4-2 victory over Army on Jan. 25, as well as a 4-0 win over Marist College, before falling to Hofstra University 4-2 in the second half of their double-header on Jan. 26.

UR opened against Army with wins in two out of three doubles matches to put them ahead going into singles play. Sophomore Dylan Atkinson and first-year Otto Sewell saw a 6-3 win on court three, while sophomore Paxton Pritchard and first-year Sam Rathmanner locked in the doubles point for the Spiders soon after.

Moving into singles play, Atkinson kept the Spiders ahead with a 7-6, 6-2 straight set victory, followed by a strong 6-1, 6-3 performance from Sewell. Junior Davis Wiley’s 6-2, 6-3 win ensured UR’s 4-2 victory over Army.

UR continued to roll into its next match day versus Marist College, sweeping the doubles point against the Red Foxes. A dominant 6-1, 6-0 showing from Atkinson buoyed the Spiders’ transition into singles play, capped by straight set wins from Sewell and sophomore Cole Brashear.

The chance for a clean sweep of their West Point opponents fell with the Spiders’ matchup against Hofstra University. The 4-2 season-opening victory for the Pride began with picking up the doubles point, where Wiley and Brashear’s 6-4 win was the only tally for UR.

A 6-1, 6-4 win for Atkinson coupled with a 6-3, 7-5 showing by graduate student Zach Portnoy seemed to stoke a comeback for UR. However, HU downed three of the remaining singles games to escape with the 4-2 win.

With their split series, the Spiders moved to 2-3 on the season. UR’s next chance to reach .500 will come at home against Hampton University on Feb. 3.

Contact sports writer Scott Valentine at scott.valentine@richmond.edu