Wolves earn first home victory in 7-2 rout of Lees-McRae

Box Score

NEWBERRY, S.C. – Riding a sweep in doubles action the Newberry men’s tennis team picked up four points in singles action to top the visiting Lees-McRae Bobcats 7-4 at the Cannon Tennis Courts.

Newberry (3-4) earned a quick 8-1 victory at No. 1 doubles, before sophomore Mohammed Chakir (Rabat, Morocco) and junior Cal Loveridge (Derby, Derbyshire, England) edged out Lees-McRae’s (0-3) No. 2 tandem 8-6.

The tightest match of doubles play came at No. 3 where sophomore David Sons (Lexington, S.C.) and freshman Carlos Nicolopulos (Valencia, Venezuela) squeaked out a tiebreak victory over Graham Battle and Hang Lak Choi.

In singles action, sophomore Vinicius Botelho (Fortaleza, Brazil) took care of Pedro De Sousa Nunes at No. 2 singles in straight sets, before sophomore Michael Saunders (Christchurch, New Zealand) topped Alexander Hayes in two sets.

Loveridge took an early one set lead over Battle, before he was forced to play from behind to earn a straight sets victory at No. 4, securing a two-win afternoon for the Englishman against his former team.

The Wolves final point of the afternoon came as Nicolopulos topped Hang Lak Choi with a tiebreak victory in the second set at No. 6.

Newberry opens South Atlantic Conference play on Wednesday when the Wolves travel to Lenoir-Rhyne for a 2 p.m. match.

Newberry 7, Lees-McRae 2
Feb 20, 2012
Newberry, S.C.
Cannon Tennis Courts

Singles
1. Michael Saunders (NEWM) def. Alexander Hayes (LMCM) 6-3, 6-2
2. Vinicius Botelho (NEWM) def. Pedro De Sousa Nunes (LMCM) 6-4, 6-0
3. Syklar Warren (LMCM) def. Mohammed Chakir (NEWM) retired
4. Cal Loveridge (NEWM) def. Graham Battle (LMCM) 6-4, 7-5
5. Marcelo Tatai (LMCM) def. David Sons (NEWM) 6-3, 2-6, 10-6
6. Carlos Nicolopulos (NEWM) def. Hang Lak Choi (LMCM) 6-1, 7-5

Doubles
1. Michael Saunders/Vinicius Botelho (NEWM) def. Pedro De Sousa Nunes/Syklar Warren (LMCM) 8-1
2. Cal Loveridge/Mohammed Chakir (NEWM) def. Alexander Hayes/Marcelo Tatai (LMCM) 8-6
3. David Sons/Carlos Nicolopulos (NEWM) def. Graham Battle/Hang Lak Choi (LMCM) 9-8 (7-4)