State dropped a pair of men’s tennis matches over the weekend in Virginia Beach, Va.
The Yellow Jackets took on Southern Virginia at the indoor facilities on the campus of Washington and Lee University. Despite several close matches, the Yellow Jackets lost 8-1. The match was also played under NCAA Division 1 rules, which are meant to speed the matches up.
Noah Fulks and Caleb Starkey dropped their #1 doubles match 6-4. Both #2 doubles of Dylan Jayasuriya and Jake Stanley, along with Ethan Cross and Zach Fraley at #3 doubles lost their doubles set 6-3.
Caleb Starkey dropped his first set at #1 singles 6-2, before going ahead 4-3 in the second set, before dropping the set 6-4. Noah Fulks at #2 singles quickly lost his first set 6-1, but like Starkey would fight for a late second set lead with a 5-4 lead, before dropping the set 7-5. Dylan Jayasuriya won his first set at #3 singles in a tiebreaker 7-6, before falling behind 4-1 in the second set, Jayasuriya would rally the final five games of the set to win the set 6-4 and score the lone win for the Yellow Jackets. Jake Stanley dropped his match at #4 singles 6-4, 6-3. Nick Fraley lost at #5 singles 6-0, 6-0. Baylee VanKirk closed out the match at #6 singles 6-2, 6-2.
Yellow Jackets traveled the next day to Virginia State University where they were handed a 7-2 defeat.
Noah Fulks and Caleb Starkey lost 8-3 at #1 doubles, Dylan Jayasuriya and Jake Stanley lost 8-2 at #2 doubles, and Zach Fraley and Adam Walters lost 8-4 at #3 doubles.
Caleb Starkey lost in straight sets 6-1, 6-0 at #1 singles. Noah Fulks dropped his first set 6-3, however Fulks rebounded to win his second set 6-3. Fulks would claim the win at #2 singles with a 10-6 win in the super tiebreaker. Ethan Cross lost his first set 6-3, but was ahead 2-0 in the second set before retiring due to an ankle injury. Dylan Jayasuriya scored his third straight singles win with a 6-3, 6-2 win at #4 singles. Jake Stanley lost 6-3, 6-3 at #5 singles, and Baylee VanKirk dropped his match 6-0, 6-0 at #6 singles.
The Yellow Jackets have two weeks off before facing off against cross-county rival the University of Charleston on March 27.
