Carter Reitman

Scrappy Effort by Hood Men Leads to 5-4 Win Over Stevenson in CAC Tournament

STEVENSON, Md.--The fifth-seeded Hood College men's tennis team (5-14) came from behind in three singles matches to clinch a hard-fought 5-4 victory over fourth-seeded Stevenson University (5-8) Saturday in the opening round of the Capital Athletic Conference Tournament.

The win was Hood's first in men's tennis in the CAC tournament.

Hood trailed 2-1 after doubles action as Carter Reitman and Mike Hardman registered the Blazers' lone triumph by downing Ryan Morse and Kevin Stamm, 8-4, at the No. 1 spot. David Blowe and Garrett Loomer suffered a heartbreaking 9-8 decision to Korey Garner and Ted Cooke at second doubles.

After dropping the first set at first, third and fourth singles, Reitman, Hardman and Andrew Blowe all rallied to force a third set and emerged victorious.

In Hood's longest singles match of the season, Reitman outlasted Cooke in a pair of grueling tiebreakers, 4-6, 7-6 (12-10), 7-6 (5-3).

Hardman lost the first set to Garner 6-4, but used a gutsy effort to topple his counterpart 6-2, 6-2 in the final two sets.

Blowe also dropped the first set to Stamm, 6-4, but came back to earn 6-3, 6-4 wins in the last two sets.

Andrew's older brother David also needed a tiebreaker in the second set to defeat Morse at second singles, 6-2, 7-6 (1-3).

Hood advances to the second round and will take on top-seeded University of Mary Washington Monday.