BARONS FALL TO CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT IN NCAA TOURNAMENT

The Franciscan University men's tennis team wrapped up their season on Friday in the first round of the Div. III NCAA Tournament in Baltimore, surrendering a 5-0 loss to the higher-seeded Christopher Newport Captains.

In doubles play, freshmen Jack Galla and Walter Matt teamed up at the No. 3 slot.  The duo played and moved well on the court despite the 8-0 loss, though they couldn't capitalize on several in-game leads.

Things were off to a great start at No. 2 doubles, where junior Connor Jooste joined team captain David Freytag for a thrilling match. Threatening to go up 2-0 behind solid serves off Freytag's racket, the pair couldn't break serve to extend their lead, as they fell by a score of 8-2.

The Franciscan No. 1 doubles matchup of Gallagher and Sulak kept the Captains off the net with angled service returns and evened the match at 3-3 behind Sulak's consistent first serves. Despite a Gallagher break of serve two games later, play remained competitive down the stretch; three deuce games made the difference in a close match, as the Captains downed the Barons 8-3 for the 3-0 doubles sweep.

Despite the deficit, the Barons played some of their best singles to date on all six courts. Galla went down 6-0, 6-0, and couldn't quite get around his opponent's groundstrokes and service inconsistency.

At. No. 2 singles, Gallagher won the first game against his opponent in both his first and second set but struggled against heavy topspin and angled forehands. He was down 2-1 in a tight second set when Sulak lost his No. 1 singles match 6-0, 6-1, ending a season for the Barons typified by their ability to fight through adversity and play to their potential.