BALTIMORE, Md. – The Coppin State men's tennis team picked up their first win of the season with a 4-3 victory over Rider University on Sunday, April 2
nd at the CSU Tennis Courts. Senior
Christian Duchnak led the Eagles with a singles victory while teaming up with junior
Gabriel Franca in doubles action downing the Broncos. The Eagles move to 1-7 overall record with Rider dropping to 2-11.
The CSU doubles duo of Duchnak and Franca won their first match of the season 6-2 over Brandon Gildea and Griffin Clark. Rider won the doubles point with victories at the first and third flights. Freshman
Andre Sturniolo and sophomore
Zaipo Oula was downed 6-1 at No. 1 and junior
Gavin Lewis and sophomore
Andres Diaz loss 6-3.
Things turned around in singles play with Coppin State rallying from behind against the visiting Broncos. Diaz, Lewis, Sturniolo and Duchnak anchored the Eagles come back with aggressive play at the net. Diaz shined with his second win of the season 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 at the No. 4 spot over Brandon Gildea. Lewis notched his team-high third victory of the spring at 6-2, 6-0 in the fifth spot. Sturniolo fought at the No. 6 singles capping a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Griffin Clark and Duchnak improved to 2-1 competing at the second singles spot 6-2, 6-2 against Adam Levi clinching the win for Coppin State.
Coppin State will prepare for an upcoming four game road trip beginning with a MEAC matchup at Howard University on Wednesday, April 8
th at 2 p.m. in Washington, DC.
Coppin State 4, Rider University 3
Singles competition
1. Popso, Chris (RID-M) def. FRANCA,Gabriel (CSUM) 6-1, 6-1
2. DUCHNAK,Christian (CSUM) def. Levi, Adam (RID-M) 6-2, 6-3
3. Van Herwarde, Jeremy (RID-M) def. OULA,Zaipo (CSUM) 6-0, 6-2
4. DIAZ,Andres (CSUM) def. Gildea, Brandon (RID-M) 6-3, 5-7, 6-1
5. LEWIS,Gavin (CSUM) def. Begley, Matthew (RID-M) 6-2, 6-0
6. STURNIOLO,Andre (CSUM) def. Clark, Griffin (RID-M) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Popso, Chris/Begley, Matthew (RID-M) def. OULA,Zaipo/STURNIOLO,Andre (CSUM) 6-1
2. DUCHNAK,Christian/FRANCA,Gabriel (CSUM) def. Clark, Griffin/Gildea, Brandon (RID-M) 6-2
3. Levi, Adam/Van Herwarde, Jeremy (RID-M) def. LEWIS,Gavin/DIAZ,Andres (CSUM) 6-3
