NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's tennis team fought valiantly on the road on Saturday, pulling off an incredible 4-3 win over Navy at the USNA Tennis Courts.
 
The Spartans (12-9) secured their eighth consecutive victory with the result, continuing one of the most remarkable season turnarounds in the nation. Navy dropped to 17-14 on the season with the loss.
 
Navy won the opening doubles point, putting the Spartans on their heels early. Igor Kubalka and Frederick McRae won 6-2 on Court 3, but Norfolk State fell at the top two positions to fall behind 1-0 in the match.
 
The deficit increased to two points when Aniketh Ayinala defeated Vladisav Gorbatenko 6-3, 6-1 at the No. 2 position, but Jakub Solarski got the Spartans on the board with a 7-5, 6-1 win over J.J. Etterbeek at the top spot in the lineup.
 
Deniz Okyay tied the match 2-2 with a 6-5, 6-2 victory over Tommy Kim on position three. Kubalka got back in the win column in singles play after a slow stretch, taking down Steve Nguyen 7-5, 6-3 at the No. 5 position.
 
After Jason Kim beat McRae 6-4, 5-7, 2-6 at the No. 4 slot, the entire weight of the match came down to the No. 6 singles position. In surely the top moment of the young student-athlete's collegiate career, Michele Elia defeated Aaron Gu 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5) to clinch the result for the Spartans.
 
The Spartans return to action with a home matchup against South Carolina State on Thursday, Apr. 10.

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