SALISBURY BOX SCORE
WASHINGTON (MD) BOX SCORE
MARYLAND - The Tigers traveled to Maryland on Friday and Saturday to compete against Salisbury University and Washington College (MD). The Tigers lost 8-1 to #9 regionally ranked Salisbury and fell to #12 regionally ranked Washington 5-1 in a game played to decision.
Rich Pugh (Augusta, GA/Lakeside) and Tal Covington (Gainesville, VA/Flint Hill) lost 8-2 at #1 doubles against Salisbury as they failed to get on track. Shad Harrell (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) and Kevin Calhoun (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) lost 8-4 in #2 doubles as they played well, but were not as sharp as they had been of recent and lacked consistency. Zack Pack (Keysville, VA/Randolph-Henry) and Ian Sammler (Prince George, VA/Prince George) continued their winning ways with good teamwork to score the 8-4 win in #3 doubles.
The singles contests all went towards the host Sea Gulls on Friday. Pugh fell 6-4, 6-1 at #1 play as Andrew Nottage was a big lefty with a big forehand who put lots of pressure on Pugh by coming to the net often. Harrell fell 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 in a hard fought #2 match from the baseline, however, Harrell started getting cramps in the third set that made him less effective. Calhoun took a 6-2, 6-4 loss at #3 singles. Covington took a 6-1, 6-1 loss at the #4 spot as he couldn't break down his opponents consistently strong and accurate ground strokes. Pack lost a marathon match at #5, falling 5-7, 6-3, (10-5). He displayed a good all court game but was edged out in the tie breaker. Sammler lost at #6 singles 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 as he played strong in the first set but lost momentum in the second set.
The Tigers did not arrive to Chestertown, MD, until midnight and had to turn around and play the next morning at 9:30 a.m at an indoor facility. Washington took all three doubles matches as the Tigers were out of sync and none were able to play to their potential after the quick turnaround from Friday's match. Pugh and Covington succumbed 8-4, Calhoun and Harrell and Pack and Sammler both went down 8-2.
Pugh suffered a decisive 6-0, 6-0 loss at #1 singles as he was unable to get on track and was unable to perform as well as he normally does. Calhoun dropped the #3 singles match 6-1, 6-4 as he lacked consistency. Covington went up 3-2 in the first set at the #4 spot, but Kyle Lisco was unable to continue and was forced to retire the match. All other matches were not completed.
The Tigers will look to rebound on Monday as they travel to Ashland, VA, to battle the Yellow Jackets of Randolph-Macon College at 3:30 p.m.
