The 29th ranked University of Mary Washington men's tennis team won its fifth straight match over a nationally-ranked opponent to open the 2018 season, as the Eagles defeated Stevens Institute, 7-2, on Sunday at the UMW Indoor Tennis Center.
UMW started fast in doubles action on Sunday, after falling behind twice in a pair of wins on Saturday. Michael Fleming and Matt Miles were victorious at one, 8-5, and Derek Hagino and Patrick Hughes won at two, 8-4, after Moses Hutchison and Ryland Byrd won at three by an 8-1 score.
In singles, Miles won at one (6-4, 6-1) and Hutchison won at two (6-4, 6-2) in straight sets, as did Cole Tecce at five 7-5, 6-0) and Byrd at six (6-3, 6-3). Joseph Brown at three and Hagino at four both dropped their first sets, but came back to win the second. Brown fell in a third set super breaker, 14-12, before Hagino fell, 7-5, in the third.
The Eagles will return to action on March 4 when they visit Caltech at 1:00 p.m. and Whittier at 5:30 p.m.