Match Results

NORFOLK, Va. – UC Riverside defeated the Norfolk State men's tennis team 5-2, spoiling the Spartans' home opener on Wednesday afternoon at the Norfolk State Tennis Complex.

The Highlanders' (12-12) swept the three doubles matches to jump out to a 1-0 lead. The teams split the first four singles contest and UC Riverside led 3-2 with two matches remaining. However, the Spartans (0-6) were unable to close out their opponents in the final two matches in their quest for their first victory of the season. 

In doubles action, Norfolk State's top duo Andres Alcaraz and Vini Da Silva fell to the Highlanders' top pair of Cooper Bridge and Gilbert Chung 7-5, but the doubles point was already secured before the conclusion of their match. Nabil Abdallah and Anderson Ju cruised to a 6-0 victory over Dan Dumitrascu and Flavian Fernandez at the No. 2 position, while Kyle McCann and Max Cohen clinched the point for UC Riverside with a 6-3 victory over Agustin Carrizo and Ignacio Guevel at No. 3.

Da Silva evened the team score at 1-1 as he cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over McCann at the No. 2 position, but UC Riverside regained the lead with a 6-0, 6-4 straight-set victory by Bridge over Alcaraz at the top singles position.

The Highlanders lengthened their lead to 3-1 after Chung claimed a hard fought victory over Carrizo, 6-4, 6-3 at the No. 5 position, but Dumitrascu kept Norfolk State's hopes alive, with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) victory over Tadeas Lansky at No. 3.

Norfolk State appeared poised to even the match at 3-3, when Guevel - playing at the No. 6 position - cruised to a 6-2 first-set victory over Ju. However, Ju claimed the final two sets 6-2, 6-3, securing the team victory.

Abdallah added a fifth point for UC Riverside by defeating Fernandez in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5 at No. 4.

Norfolk State will be back in action on Sunday when it opens its MEAC schedule with a match against Howard at 1 p.m.