Drexel Box Score | Georgetown Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – The Norfolk State men's tennis team nearly pulled off the upset of Drexel on the opening day of its 2012 season, but the Spartans fell to the Dragons, 3-2, Saturday morning at the VCU 4+1 Invitational. The Spartans also dropped a 4-0 contest to Georgetown later in the afternoon.

NSU's two newest players picked up some big wins over Drexel at VCU's Thalhimer Tennis Center, as freshmen Igor Braga and Daniel Grauel both won in straight sets. Braga downed Jeganathan Srinivasan at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-2, while Grauel earned the victory at No. 4 singles, 6-3, 6-1, over Paul Stauskas.

In the other two singles bouts, senior Ben Marks lost to Badr Quabdelmoumen, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 1 singles, and senior Christian Romanzini fell to Bryan Nguyen at No. 3 singles, 6-0, 6-1. Earlier in the match, the duo of sophomore Kent Austin and freshman Shaheed Mourillon-Swift dropped a 6-4, 6-1 decision to Daniel Hansen and Skyler Davis.

Against Georgetown later in the day, NSU was unable to make another run. At No. 1 singles, Marks fell to Andrew Bruhn, 6-1, 7-5, while Braga dropped a 6-2, 6-4 decision to Charlie Caris at the second spot. Romanzini came up short against Shane Korber, 6-1, 6-4, at No. 3 singles, while Andrew Dottino led Grauel, 6-4, 4-3, in the No. 4 match before play was ended.

In the doubles match, Austin and Mourillon-Swift dropped a 6-3, 6-2 decision to Brian Ward and Casey Distaso.

NSU will next face East Carolina and Kennesaw State on Friday and Saturday at East Carolina. The Spartans will play East Carolina at 3 p.m. followed by Kennesaw State at 11 a.m. on Saturday.