4/22/2001 - Men's Tennis
Navy Falls To Army in Tennis Championship

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HAMILTON, N.Y. -- Army defeated Navy, 4-1, in the championship match of the Patriot League tennis meet, Sunday in Hamilton, N.Y.

Army began the day by winning at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles to win the doubles point, something the Black Knights were not able to do when the two teams met on April 1. Losing in doubles meant Navy would have to win four of the six singles matches to win the championship.

Cameron Lickle did his part for the Midshipmen, beating Kent Ball at No. 2 singles, 6-3, 6-4, but that would be the lone victory on the day for Navy. Chris McGrath lost at No. 3 singles to John Sabia, 6-3, 6-4, Ryan Osgood lost at No. 5 singles to Andy Burdette, 6-0, 6-4, and Jim Shaughnessy lost at No. 6 singles to Matt Thinnes, 6-2, 6-4.

Navy's Ben Salomon and Heath Marshall held leads in the two singles matches that were not finished.

"We did not play well in the doubles," said Navy head coach John Officer. "But we regrouped and started to play better in the singles. Army is an experienced team, and I think we showed some of our inexperience out there today."

Navy sees its season come to a close with an 18-11 record, as well as its seventh-consecutive appearance in the finals of the Patriot League Championship. The Midshipmen will return five starters to next year's team.

"I am very proud of this team," said Officer. "We improved dramatically from the start of the fall to the end of the spring season. We were able to beat a number of teams this spring we had lost to during the fall. We feel very good about winning 18 matches with one senior, three sophomores and two freshmen in our lineup."

#1 Army 4 def. #2 Navy 1 - Finals

Singles:

No. 1 Ben Salomon (NA) vs. Marshall Clay (USMA) 1-6,

6-3, 2-1 Did Not Finish

No. 2 Cameron Lickle (NA) def. Kent Ball (USMA) 6-4,

6-3

No. 3 John Sabia (USMA) def. Chris McGrath (NA) 6-3,

6-4

No. 4 Heath Marshall (NA) vs. Arnie Albornoz (USMA)

7-6, 4-4 Did Not Finish

No. 5 Andy Burdette (USMA) def. Ryan Osgood (NA) 6-0,

6-4

No. 6 Matt Thinnes (USMA) def. Jim Shaughnessy (NA)

6-2, 6-4

Doubles:

No. 1 Clay/Burdette (USMA) def. Salomon/Shaughnessy

(NA) 8-1

No. 2 A. Albornoz/Sabia (USMA) def. Lickle/McGrath

(NA) 8-1

No. 3 Marshall Osgood (NA) vs. Thinnes/Sonny Avichal

(USMA) 6-5 Did Not Finish