Dukes nip Spartans

Casey Templeton / senior photographer Junior Bob Allensworth returns a shot during JMU's 4-3 win over Norfolk State.

The JMU men’s tennis team capitalized on a pair of forfeits to beat Norfolk State 4-3 Saturday.

The Dukes, who are in the middle of a four-game, six-day stretch, redeemed themselves after losing 4-3 to the Richmond Spiders Friday.

"I think it’ll help our confidence," coach Steve Secord said. "It is a long stretch, so it’s important to keep ourselves healthy and focused."

Norfolk State arrived to the match missing their No. 6-seeded player Kirk Thomas, putting JMU at an immediate advantage in the doubles competition where the first of seven points is decided. With an automatic win by default, the Dukes only had to win one of two doubles matches to take the point.

"I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. They change year to year and I figured we would have a decent match," Secord said.

Both teams delivered, with the team of senior David Emory and freshman Jesse Tarr winning 8-4 and the team of freshman Carlin Campbell and junior Bob Allensworth winning 9-7.

Needing only to win two out of five singles matches, JMU did just that with two-set victories by Emory and sophomore Brian Clay.

Emory quickly disposed of opponent Jakub Novak, 6-0, 6-4. In a battle of two baseliners, Emory won by cutting better angles and holding on to his serve.

"The second set [Novak] picked it up, but I got the early break in the first service game and we rode it out," Emory said. "He couldn’t do anything about my serve."

While Allensworth was ending his singles match with a 2-6, 3-6 defeat, Clay clinched the win by closing out Spartan right-hander Stephen Charter in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. Throughout the match, Clay put pressure on Charter to force him to hit defensively.

"It was a windy day and he was rolling balls back, playing defensively," Clay said. "I tried to put the pressure on him and move up [to the net]."

Campbell managed to stay in his game after dropping his first set to win the second, pushing his match to a 10-point tiebreaker, which he lost 10-8. Tarr also had a match extend to a tiebreak, which he lost 6-2, 4-6, 0-1 (7-10).

The Dukes will host Stony Brook University Wednesday at the tennis courts adjacent to the Convocation Center.