Thanks to a strong showing by the Richmond contingent in its lineup, James Madison University’s men’s team captured the Dukes’ home opener 5-2 over Hofstra March 21 in Harrisonburg.
Freshman Paul Mendoza and senior Brett Moorhead, both former standouts for Cosby High in Midlothian, helped JMU secure the doubles point in separate matches, and then each supplied a singles point, Moorhead at No. 4 and Mendoza at No. 5.
The final point of the match was posted by former Midlothian High ace Tate Steinour, a freshman who now lives in Hilton Head, S.C. Steinour is the son of Scott Steinour, director of tennis at Salisbury Country Club.
The Dukes were 6-6 overall heading into a March 24 Colonial Athletic Association match with Delaware.
Meanwhile, two more freshmen were instrumental in getting victories for their teams.
Ex-St. Catherine’s standout Lily Horsley, a first-year on Washington and Lee’s women’s team, teamed with Emily Kochard (No. 3) to give the Generals, ranked No. 16 in Division III, one of the doubles points in a 7-2 triumph over No. 22 Skidmore on March 19 in Fredericksburg.
The Generals, who are 11-2, were set to take on No. 10 Carnegie Mellon on March 26 in Lexington.
In Fredericksburg, former Douglas Freeman star Joseph Brown won his match at No. 5 singles as the No. 21-ranked Mary Washington men’s team coasted past No. 33 W&L 8-1 on March 18. The Eagles improved to 7-4 on the season.
The UMW women’s team cruised to its fifth straight win, an 8-1 decision over Bates College on March 19 in Fredericksburg. Two local ladies played a major role in the outcome, which improved No. 15 Mary Washington’s record to 9-3.
Freshman Rachel Summers (James River) supplied the clinching point at No. 4 singles, while junior Caroline Mosberg (Deep Run) came up just short in her No. 3 match. Both of them were part of winning doubles teams, Summers at No. 2 and Mosberg at No. 3.
One of UMW’s losses was to top-ranked Emory in the ITA National Indoors earlier in March.
At Randolph-Macon, the men’s team is well-represented with local talent. Three members of the top six in singles played for area high schools, led by junior Baxter Carter (St. Christopher’s) at No. 2 singles and freshman Grant Sarver (Mills Godwin) at No. 3. Sophomore Shane Berry (James River) fills out the lineup at No. 6.
Sarver and Carter hold down the No. 1 spot in doubles for the Yellow Jackets, who were 2-4 going into a match at Southern Virginia on March 25.
Four other local players are on the roster for R-MC (Jack Aprahamian-Trinity, Alex Curnow-Midlothian, Noah Herrington- Manchester, Phillip Terrono-Deep Run).
At the University of Richmond, freshman Matt Fernandez (St. Christopher’s) has helped the men’s team roll to 12 consecutive victories and an overall record of 13-2. Fernandez plays No. 6 singles for the Spiders and No. 3 doubles.
UR opens Atlantic 10 Conference play on March 24 against St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia before returning home to face Monmouth and Norfolk State in a doubleheader on March 26.
Freshman Morgan Fuqua (Mills Godwin) has taken over the No. 1 singles and doubles spots for the women’s team at Shenandoah, which was off to a 3-1 start heading into a March 25 home date against ODAC rival Lynchburg..