Baltimore, Md. – The UMBC men's tennis team blanked the Coppin State Eagles, defeating them 7-0 on Senior Day at the Retriever Tennis Complex.
Many players got on the courts for their first time in several matches, including senior Hunter McCawley (Bel Air, Md.). who handled his opponent, 6-1, 6-2. He won at the No. 6 position in his first match of the season, after taking the fall semester off to focus on school. Head Coach Rob Hubbard praised McCawley for his work ethic and meticulousness during practice after the matches were over.
The match of the day was played by junior Justin Lansinger (Eldersburg, Md.). Playing in his first match of the season, the number 5 man lost a heartbreaking first set, 6-4. He would not back down, and came back strong to win the second set, 6-2. In a tense tiebreaker, Lansinger pulled it out 11-9 behind the support of his teammates and coaches.
Junior Andrew Pecht (Hyattsville, Md.) got on the court for the first time at the No. 3 doubles position, but fell with freshman partner Sam Keefer (Ridgewood, N.J.), 8-4. The Retriever regular starters handled their opponents. Sophomore Alex Drean (Bayonne, France) and his junior partner Daniel Gray (Bowie, Md./The Bullis School) won at the No. 1 position, 8-2. Sophomore Eliott Loubatie (Paris, France) and junior Kamal Patel (Germantown, Md./Seneca Valley) blanked their opponents 8-0 at the No. 2 slot, clinching the doubles point for the Retrievers.
Sophomores Justin Carter (Randallstown, Md.) and Melker Svard (Gothenburg, Sweden) continued their winning ways at the 1 and 2 positions on the singles side. Drean soundly won his match, 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 3 position and Loubatie won at the No. 4 slot with a score 6-1, 6-0.
The Retrievers finished 12-9 for the regular season, and will next compete in the America East Tournament on April 25-27.
