United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Men's Tennis

EASTON, MASS.--(9/23/08)--Only three days after a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to Connecticut College that saw the Bears swept in doubles, the Coast Guard Academy tennis team traveled to Division II powerhouse Stonehill College (ranked #5 in the East) and pulled off the an upset.

The match started with the best doubles performance of the fall as the Bears swept all three doubles. Senior captain Tim Ozimek and sophomore James Vuckovic dominated the #3 doubles 8-3, while the #1 and #2 doubles went to the limit 9-7 and 9-8(4), respectively.

But Stonehill was determined not to let CGA leave with the victory. After over two hours of singles play only junior Chris Pappe was off the courts with his best performance of the fall and a 6-2, 6-3 win at #3. Then Stonehill started to turn the tide. First to fall was #1, and previously unbeaten, Freshman Greg Mitchell who nearly forced a third set losing 6-2, 7-6(6). Freshman Wesley Figaro and junior Vince Falco followed with Stonehill winning #6 and #5 each in three sets.

After four hours of play it came down to sophomore James Vuckovic at #4. James lost the first set 0-6, but he saved match points in the second set to win it 7-6(3) and persisted in the third set 7-6(0) to give Coast Guard the dual match.

Freshman Nick Martin watched Vuckovic win from his court-side chair having just split marathon sets at #2. Martin then put an exclamation point on the victory by winning a third set super-tiebreaker 10-7 and giving the Bears a 6-3 dual match win.

This weekend, Mitchell and Martin travel to the ITA Regional singles/doubles championships at Williams College.