Top-Ranked Virginia Downs Baylor 6-1

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WACO, Texas – The top-ranked Virginia men’s tennis team continued its road trip with a 6-1 win over No. 28 Baylor Saturday at the Baylor Tennis Center. The Cavaliers rallied from dropping the doubles point with a dominating singles performance to improve to 16-0 this season. The Bears, who suffered just their ninth home loss in the past 10 years, fall to 8-3 this season.

“These guys showed they are competitors,” said assistant coach Andres Pedroso. “It doesn’t matter the situation, indoors/outdoors, a lot of wind, down a doubles point, or even down a set in singles, they keep fighting. I was proud of that effort. I think this match will help us long term. To be in a position where we lost the doubles point and came out fired up for singles was a great statement.”

In doubles, Baylor took a 1-0 lead by winning the opening point. The Bears took the early advantage as John Peers and Roberto Maytin topped Michael Shabaz (Fairfax, Va.) and Drew Courtney (Clifton, Va.) 8-2 at No. 1, handing the reigning NCAA Champions their first loss of the season and snapping their 19-match win streak. The Cavaliers drew even at No. 3, where Alex Domijan (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) and Steven Rooda (Amersfoort, The Netherlands) defeated Julian Bley and Kike Grangeiro 9-7. Baylor won the doubles point at No. 2, where Sergio Ramirez and Jordan Rux won in a tiebreaker, 9-8(3), over Sanam Singh (Chandigarh, India) and Jarmere Jenkins (College Park, Ga.).

In singles, the Cavaliers bounced back by coming out strong, winning five of the six first sets. They kept that momentum going, winning all five, losing six games or less in each match. Jenkins drew Virginia even, 1-1, with his 6-2, 6-1 win over Rux at No. 4. A minute later Justin Shane (Falls Church, Va.) gave the Cavaliers the lead, as he completed a 6-2, 6-3 win over Maytin at No. 5. Domijan made the score 3-1 with his 6-2, 6-3 victory at the No. 2 spot over Ramirez. Singh clinched the win for Virginia at No. 3, where he topped Dennis Lengsfeld 6-3, 6-3. Courtney added a 6-2, 6-3 win over Grangeiro at No. 6 to make the score 5-1. Shabaz completed the Cavalier singles sweep with a win over Peers at No. 1, rallying from dropping the first set for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 win.

The Cavaliers continue their road trip next weekend as they visit No. 29 Oklahoma on Friday and No. 3 Texas on Sunday.

#1 Virginia 6, #28 Baylor 1

Doubles
1. #10 Maytin/Peers (BU) def. #2 Shabaz/Courtney (UVa) 8-2
2. Ramirez/Rux (BU) def. Singh/Jenkins (UVa) 9-8(3)
3. Domijan/Rooda (UVa) def. Bley/Grangeiro (BU) 9-7

Singles
1. #10 Michael Shabaz (UVa) def. #22 John Peers (BU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
2. #2 Alex Domijan (UVa) def. Sergio Ramirez (BU) 6-2, 6-3
3. #18 Sanam Singh (UVa) def. Dennis Lengsfeld (BU) 6-3, 6-3
4. #31 Jarmere Jenkins (UVa) def. Jordan Rux (BU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Justin Shane (UVa) def. #81 Roberto Maytin (BU) 6-2, 6-3
6. #30 Drew Courtney (UVa) def. #91 Kike Grangeiro (BU) 6-2, 6-3

Order of Finish
Doubles: 1,3,2
Singles: 4,5,2,3,6,1