LEXINGTON, VA (APRIL 23, 2010)– The #1 seeded and defending ODAC Champion Hampden-Sydney tennis team opened their title defense today with a quick win over the #8 seeded Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan College in the ODAC quarterfinals. The Tigers made quick work of the Marlins, sweeping the three doubles matches before taking the first three singles matches to secure the win by a score of 6-0.

The no. 1 doubles team of senior William Moss (Fredericksburg, VA/Fredericksburg) and juniorRich Pugh (Augusta, GA/Lakeside) led things off for the Tigers, storming out to an 8-0 win to set the tone for the rest of the match. In no. 2 doubles, junior Shad Harrell (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) and sophomore Kevin Calhoun (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) followed suit, winning their match 8-1. The no. 3 doubles pair of juniors Tal Covington (Gainesville, VA/Flint Hill) and Zack Pack (Keysville, VA/Randolph-Henry) completed the sweep by taking their match with a perfect 8-0 score.

The Tigers continued to roll in singles play, with Calhoun grabbing the first singles point with a decisive 6-1, 6-2 win at the no. 4 spot. Harrell followed suit at no. 3, easily taking his match by a score of 6-1, 6-0, and Pugh followed that with a 6-2, 6-2 win at the no. 2 spot to secure the 6-0 victory for the Tigers. At the time of the decision, Moss was winning his match at no. 1 by a score of 6-1, 5-0, Covington was winning the no. 5 match 6-0, 5-0, and Pack was winning at the no. 6 spot by a score of 6-0, 4-0. With the win, Hampden-Sydney improves to 14-3 overall on the season.

The Tigers' semifinal opponent will be #5 seeded Roanoke College, who upset the #4 seeded Wasps of Emory and Henry. That match will take place tomorrow at 9:00 am at Washington and Lee. Live stats for the match will be available here.

Singles
1. William Moss (HSC) vs. Devin Crosby (VWC): 6-1, 5-0, unfinished
2. Rich Pugh (HSC) def. Zak Bartley (VWC): 6-2, 6-1
3. Shad Harrell (HSC) def. Luke Blum (VWC): 6-1, 6-0
4. Kevin Calhoun (HSC) def. Donnie Greathouse (VWC): 6-1, 6-2
5. Tal Covington (HSC) vs. Wels Lawrence (VWC): 6-0, 5-0, unfinished
6. Zack Pack (HSC) vs. Darrell Fountain (VWC): 6-0, 4-0, unfinished

Doubles
1. Moss/Pugh (HSC) def. Crosby/Bartley (VWC): 8-0
2. Harrell/Calhoun (HSC) def. Blum/Greathouse (VWC): 8-1
3. Covington/Pack (HSC) def. Lawrence/Fountain (VWC): 8-0