Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Even without one of its best player, the Norfolk State men's tennis team fought well in a 6-1 loss to East Carolina Friday afternoon at the ECU Indoor Tennis Facility.

Senior Ben Marks picked up the only win on the day for the Spartans (0-3), defeating Joran Vliegen at No. 1 singles in a comeback victory, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. East Carolina improved its record to 1-1 on the year.

Two new players, freshmen Igor Braga and Daniel Grauel, nearly came away with a pair of victories as well in singles play. Grauel faced Damien Brenard at No. 4 singles and won the first set, 6-2, before falling in the second set, 7-5. Brenard won the third-set tiebreaker for the match win, 10-8.

Braga, meanwhile, fell in the first set to Nicolas Soriano at No. 2 singles, 6-4, before a clean sweep in the second set, 6-0. Soriano got revenge with a 6-2 win in the third set to earn the match victory.

At No. 3 singles, senior Christian Romanzini lost to Niels Cleeren, 6-1, 6-4, while senior Roosevelt Cooper dropped a 6-0, 6-3 decision to David Masciorini at the fifth single spot. Sophomore Kent Austin succumbed to Mario Martinez, 6-1, 6-2, at the sixth singles position.

In doubles play, Austin and freshman Shaheed Mourillon-Swift fared the best in their No. 3 match, an 8-4 loss to Martinez and John Schmitt. Braga and Grauel fell to Masciorini and Cleeren, 8-3, at the second doubles slot, while Marks and Romanzini dropped an 8-2 decision to Vliegen and Soriano at No. 1 doubles.

NSU will stay in Greenville to face Kennesaw State Saturday at 11 a.m. at ECU.