STEVENSON, Md.--The fifth-seeded Hood College men's tennis team
(5-14) came from behind in three singles matches to clinch a
hard-fought 5-4 victory over fourth-seeded Stevenson University
(5-8) Saturday in the opening round of the Capital Athletic
Conference Tournament.
The win was Hood's first in men's tennis in the CAC tournament.
Hood trailed 2-1 after doubles action as Carter Reitman and Mike
Hardman registered the Blazers' lone triumph by downing Ryan Morse
and Kevin Stamm, 8-4, at the No. 1 spot. David Blowe and Garrett
Loomer suffered a heartbreaking 9-8 decision to Korey Garner and
Ted Cooke at second doubles.
After dropping the first set at first, third and fourth singles,
Reitman, Hardman and Andrew Blowe all rallied to force a third set
and emerged victorious.
In Hood's longest singles match of the season, Reitman outlasted
Cooke in a pair of grueling tiebreakers, 4-6, 7-6 (12-10), 7-6
(5-3).
Hardman lost the first set to Garner 6-4, but used a gutsy
effort to topple his counterpart 6-2, 6-2 in the final two sets.
Blowe also dropped the first set to Stamm, 6-4, but came back to
earn 6-3, 6-4 wins in the last two sets.
Andrew's older brother David also needed a tiebreaker in the
second set to defeat Morse at second singles, 6-2, 7-6 (1-3).
Hood advances to the second round and will take on top-seeded
University of Mary Washington Monday.
