March 22, 2006

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy tennis team won the doubles point, but No. 45-ranked Penn won four of six singles matches to escape with a 4-3 victory over the Mids at the Severn Valley Racquet Club on Wednesday afternoon. The loss dropped Navy's record to 8-6 overall, heading into this weekend's Patriot League opener.

"We gave a heck of an effort today, and were just a few games from beating one of the top-50 teams in the country," said Navy head coach John Officer. "We played a lot of close matches. I was pleased with how hard we fought for every point."

Navy won the doubles point after earning victories at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. Nate Nelms and Brandon Carter teamed up for an 8-2 victory over Justin Fox and Brandon O'Gara at No. 1 doubles, before the No. 3 team of freshmen Jason Hill and Johnny Waters clinched the point with an 8-6 victory over Mikhail Bekker and Jimmy Fairbanks.

However, Navy's hopes for an upset ended when the Quakers won the first four singles matches that finished. Navy would win at No. 4 and No. 6 singles, thanks to Waters and Carter's victories. Waters scored a hard-fought 7-6 (10), 7-6 (10) win over Aubry Wand at No. 6, while Carter won 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (5) over O'Gara at No. 4 singles. The Mids' Nate Nelms lost at No. 1 singles by a 5-7, 7-5, 6-0, margin to Bekker. Nelms was very close to winning in straight sets, before succumbing in the third set.

"Penn is a very good team and they have beaten some excellent teams," said Officer. "To know that we were within points of beating them is a huge confidence boost for us, and gives us a lot of confidence heading into the Patriot League season."

Of Navy's six losses, five of them have come to foes ranked in the top 64 nationally, and the other team, New Mexico, is just on the outside of the national polls.

"We have really matured through a difficult schedule, and have really tested ourselves," said Officer. "The schedule should prepare us very well for Patriot League play."

Navy will open its league slate on Saturday at Colgate, before heading to Bucknell on Sunday.

No. 45 Penn 4, Navy 3
DOUBLES RESULTS (Navy won the doubles point):
1. Nelms / Carter (Navy) def. Fox / O'Gara, 8-2
2. Boym / Stetson (Penn) def. Lai / Kahl, 8-6
3. Hill / Waters (Navy) def. Bekker / Fairbanks, 8-6

SINGLES (Order of finish):
2. Boym (Penn) def. Hill, 6-0, 6-1
3. Fox (Penn) def. Lai, 6-2, 6-1
5. Fairbanks (Penn) def. Kahl, 6-4, 6-1
1. Bekker (Penn) def. Nelms, 5-7, 7-5, 6-0
6. Waters (Navy) def. Wand, 7-6 (10), 7-6 (10)
4. Carter (Navy) def. O'Gara , 4-5, 6-4, 7-6 (5)

# GO NAVY #