UMBC

Annapolis, Md.--Senior David Jackson won a grueling three-set decision at No. 4 singles as the UMBC men’s tennis team defeated host Navy, 4-3 at the Tose Family Tennis Center in Annapolis, Md. It was UMBC’s first ever victory over the Midshipmen (15-8) in men’s tennis and the Retrievers improved to 11-4 on the season.

UMBC won the doubles point, triumphing at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. The Mids took three of the first five singles matches and Jackson dropped the first set to Ramsey Lemaich, 6-3. After capturing the second set, 6-4, he found himself down a break in the third set, but managed to fend off a match point and got the match to a tie-breaker. The 2007 America East Tournament Most Outstanding Player faced a pair of match points in the tie-breaker, but pulled it out, 8-6. 

Jackson also teamed with senior Irfan Shamasdin to win at No. 1 doubles, 9-7, over Navy’s Nate Nelms and Johnny Waters and clinch the doubles point. Sophomores Fredi Voorman and Chris Meyer got UMBC off to a good start with an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles.

Voorman dropped the first set at No. 5 singles, but fought back strongly to defeat Alex James, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. The Retrievers fell in the next three singles matches and trailed Navy, 3-2, but No. 2 junior Nick Savage-Pollock rallied to edge Waters, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, setting the stage for Jackson’s decisive match.

“It was a great show of toughness by our guys,” Head Coach Keith Puryear said. “Navy did a great job of coming out hard to win the first set in every singles match. However, everyone on the team did a great job of maintaining their focus and fighting back. Dave, Nick, and Fredi were able slowly work their way back to win. This was a total team effort.”