Firebirds Cruise Past Virginia Union, 8-1

WASHINGTON, DC – The University of the District of Columbia men's tennis team defeated non-regional opponent, Virginia Union University, 8-1 on a gorgeous, warm, spring afternoon at UDC Tennis Courts on Tuesday.

The Firebirds, who have won five of six matches this spring, improved to 5-3 overall with today's win, while the Panthers fell to 0-6 with the loss.

UDC earned victories at No. 1 and 2 doubles and No. 1 through No. 4 singles, and they won by default at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles.

Juniors Rok Bozic and Diego Pinto remained red-hot as the pair earned its 5^th consecutive No. 1 doubles win, 8-0 vs. Lamar Richardson and Sonnie Bost. With the Panthers having no No. 3 doubles team, head coach Dickie Mahaffey elevated his No. 3 doubles team to No. 2 doubles, and gave juniors Alexis Baguelin and Ander Murillo a day's rest from doubles. Junior Marco Feligioni and freshman Josip Marinic had no trouble vs. Antony Jones and Kareem Burrows as they won 8-0.

In singles play, Baguelin (No. 2), Murillo (No. 3) and Feligioni (No. 4) each won in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0, while junior Rok Bozic also won his No. 1 singles match comfortably, 6-1, 6-1.

Francis Ngobounan saw his first dual match action this spring as he played No. 5 singles for UDC. He bounced back from a four tie-break first set loss to win the 2^nd set, 7-5, but he ultimately lost to Fanate Marr, 7-6(4), 5-7, 10-5.

Up next, UDC (2-1 ECC) will host league foe Roberts Wesleyan College on Friday, April 7^th at 12 p.m.