Marlins Drop Close 5-4 Decision to Lynchburg

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Sunday afternoon saw the VIrginia Wesleyan men's tennis team drop a 5-4 heartbreaking match at Lynchburg College. In a match that lasted nearly five hours, a mere few points stood between the Marlins and their first conference victory of the season. 

In the doubles portion of the competition, Brendan Kelleher and Nick Gunther rolled to an 8-2 victory at first doubles. With Parris Willis and Andreas Combos absorbing a defeat at third doubles, the doubles point and advantage would come down to the team of Joe Holloway and Paul Gladstone. In a back and forth affair, the VWC duo dropped the match by a 9-7 score line.  

In the singles portion of the afternoon, Kelleher quickly leveled the score at 2-2 with a dominant 6-0, 6-1 rout at second singles. The Marlins and Hornets traded victories at third, fourth, fifth and sixth singles, notching the score line at 4-4 with the final match serving as a barnburner at first singles between Paul Gladstone and his Lynchburg opponent, Juan Borga. In a nearly three-hour match, Borga eventually prevailed by a mammoth 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 score.  

"You want to put yourself in positions to win," said head coach Marty Perry, "and we did a great job of that today. That's great college tennis."

Virginia Wesleyan (2-12/0-3) travels to Randolph-Macon College (5-4/3-1) Thursday for a 4 p.m. ODAC contest.