Men's Tennis Falls in First of Two Weekend Matches to Richmond

GREENVILLE, N.C. - Appalachian State University men's tennis (1-4) fell to Richmond (4-1) in a valiant effort on Saturday morning in the ECU Indoor Tennis Facility

The Pirates won the doubles points and picked up four of six singles matches for the win. However, the match was closer than the score indicated with three of Appalachian's losses going to three sets and one match in doubles going into a tiebreak.

Alex Brea and Milo Bargeron dispatched their opponent in convincing fashion as the first tandem done in the No. 3 spot, defeating Klein Evans/Joe Nardini, 6-4. 

After Richmond had tied up the singles portion, the deciding match went into a tiebreak. Bence Tamas and Alex Pavkovich fell to Kosh Keitelman and Matt Fernandez, 7-6 (7-0). 

Bargeron tied up the match for App when he dealt Brice Polender a straight set, 6-4, 6-0 defeat. Afonso Viana fell in a three-frame battle after winning the first set, 6-3, before falling in the next two frames. 

Pavkovich came back from a one-set deficit to force a third and final frame. He won the second set in a tiebreak, 7-6 (7-5), but ultimately fell to Matt Fernandez, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1. Richmond clinched the match on court No. 4 followed by  Tamas collecting a 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 (10-3) triumph. The freshman also came back from a one-set deficit before storming back for his victory over Walsh.

Blake Carter's match ended the day in a nail-biter. The sophomore won the first set 7-6 (7-5) but fell in the next two stanzas that included a tiebreak against Keitelman. 

Appalachian will look to even the weekend tomorrow against the host, ECU, at 12 p.m.