The 27th ranked University of Mary Washington men's tennis team defeated a pair of nationally ranked opponents on Saturday, as the Eagles topped 22nd ranked Stevens Institute, 9-0, and then 37th ranked Sewanee, 5-4, to improve to 2-2 overall, and 2-0 against NCAA Division III teams.
In the early match, UMW jumped ahead with doubles wins from Ryland Byrd and Michael Fleming at one, 8-4; Brandon Griffin and Matt Miles at two, 8-4, and Derek Hagino and Patrick Hughes, 9-8.
The Eagles continued their momentum in singles play, as Miles picked up a 6-3, 6-1 win at three, Hughes won at four, 6-1, 6-0, and Byrd at six, 6-4, 7-5. Griffin won at one, 7-6, 6-3; and Fleming won at two, 7-6, 6-4. Joseph Brown won in a super breaker, 6-2, 2-6, 10-3.
UMW then faced Sewanee in the afternoon, and took two of three doubles matches. Byrd and Fleming won at one, 8-5, and Griffin and Miles won at two, 8-4. In singles, Miles won at three, 6-0, 7-6; Griffin won at one, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, and Brown won the last match on at five, 6-7, 6-0, 6-1.
UMW will be back in action on Sunday when they host North Carolina Wesleyan College at 1 p.m., and St. Mary's College at 5 p.m.