Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Mitch Harper, Alex Ribeiro, Ryan Kros, and Chase Bernstine's last home match for Virginia Tech men's tennis wrapped up in fitting fashion for the four student-athletes on Sunday afternoon, a 4-3 defeat of No. 36 Duke.
The Hokies (9-6, 5-4 ACC) had a good start to doubles with Senior Day honorees Mitch Harper and Alex Ribeiro downing their opponents on Court 2, 6-4. Duke (7-7, 3-3 ACC) ultimately clinched the point narrowly when its No. 12 ranked duo of Garrett Johns and Sean Sculley went to a tiebreak with the Hokies' Jordan Chrysostom and Ryan Fishback.
Tech got back in the match when Harper defeated No. 92 Johns on Court 1, 6-4, 6-3, adding another ranked win to his illustrious career. To top off his senior day, Harper downed No. 92 ranked Garrett Johns 6-4, 6-3. Fishback marched back from a first set loss to win in a third-set tiebreaker on Court 5. Sophomore Matthis Ross downed Sean Sculley on Court 2 after dropping his first set, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4. Freshman Hugo Maia clinched the match for Tech in dramatic fashion after climbing his way back into the match to win in a third-set tiebreak.
The Hokies will return to action on the road to face the No. 6 Virginia Cavaliers (14-2, 8-0 ACC) on Thursday, April 2.
SINGLES
1. Mitch Harper (VT) def. #92 Garrett Johns (DU) 6-4, 6-3
2. #96 Matthis Ross (VT) def. Sean Sculley (DU) 4-6, 7-6, 6-4
3. #94 Edu Guell (DU) def. Carlo Donato (VT) 7-6, 6-4
4. Hugo Maia (VT) def. #101 Andrew Zhang (DU) 5-7, 6-3, 7-6
5. Ryan Fishback (VT) def. Luca Keist (DU) def. 4-6, 6-2, 7-6
6. Samuel Rubell (DU) def. Alvaro Ariza (VT) 7-6, 6-4
DOUBLES
1. #12 Garrett Johns/Sean Sculley (DU) def. #36 Jordan Chrysostom/Ryan Fishback (VT) 7-6
2. Mitch Harper/Alex Ribeiro (VT) def. Edu Guell/Luca Keist (DU) 6-4
3. Andrew Zhang/Michael Heller (DU) def. Michael Shepheard/Ryan Kros (VT) 6-3
Gallery: (3-27-2021) 2021 MEN'S TENNIS SENIOR DAY vs. DUKE