The University of Mary Washington men's tennis team won at two and three doubles to gain a lead heading into singles, and the top of the lineup came through with wins at one, three and four in a 5-1 victory over Kalamazoo College on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championship in Gambier, Ohio. The Eagles improve to 17-10 on the season.

Freshmen Alex Blahkin and Kevin Aquino won at three doubles, 8-2, before getting a big lift in the deciding doubles match, as Sam Wichlin and Will Apperson won, 9-8 (7-5) to give UMW the lead into singles play.

In singles, Wichlin won in three sets, and Blahkin and Apperson won in straight sets to clinch the match. The Eagles will take on sixth-ranked Kenyon College on Sunday, with the winner advancing to the national quarterfinals. 

2011 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship Tournament
Kalamazoo College vs Mary Washington (May 14, 2011)
#26 Mary Washington 5, Kalamazoo College 1
May 14, 2011 at Gambier, OH (Jasper Tennis Center)


Singles competition

1. Sam Wichlin (UMW) def. Nate Eddy (KZO-M) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
2. Kaz Murata (UMW) vs. Mark Denenfeld (KZO-M) 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 4-5, unfinished
3. Alex Blakhin (UMW) def. Alex Dombos (KZO-M) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
4. Will Apperson (UMW) def. Tom Cafmeyer (KZO-M) 6-4, 6-3
5. Riley Baver (UMW) vs. Steve Hanselman (KZO-M) 4-6, unfinished
6. Mike Korn (KZO-M) vs. Kevin Aquino (UMW) no result


Doubles competition

1. Mark Denenfeld/Nate Eddy (KZO-M) def. Riley Baver/Kaz Murata (UMW) 9-7
2. Will Apperson/Sam Wichlin (UMW) def. Clay Bartelt/Steve Hanselman (KZO-M) 9-8 (7-5)
3. Kevin Aquino/Alex Blakhin (UMW) def. Tom Cafmeyer/Alex Dombos (KZO-M) 8-2


Match Notes

Kalamazoo College 13-9
Mary Washington 17-10; National ranking #26
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,1,3)
NCAA Division III Tournament
Second Round
(1 and 3 doubles finished outside - all other matches finished inside)