WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNCW men's tennis earned a convincing 5-0 shutout victory against NJIT in non-conference action at UNCW Courts on Thursday. 

The Seahawks won their second straight match, improving to 5-7 overall, while the Highlanders fell to 10-3. 

"Very pleased that we were able to get a decisive win over a very good NJIT team," head coach Mait DuBois said. "NJIT played in the NCAA tournament last year and competes very well. The guys have been working very hard to make strides in some areas and today I think they really showed it. Lukas Steffen and Harold Huens were able to fight off a number of match points to clinch the doubles point.  Lukas used that momentum to be the first guy off the court in singles with a very decisive win.  Pleased with our progress and looking forward to a good match against Kennesaw State tomorrow."

The Seahawks eeked out the doubles point to begin the match. Jordi Domenech and Joseph Wayand improved to 3-1 in No.1 doubles, defeating Pablo Perez Ramos and Nejc Skorjanc, 6-2.

NJIT rallied with a 7-6 win in No. 2 doubles, winning the tiebreaker 12-10 to even up doubles play. UNCW responded to clinch the doubles point, as Huens and Steffen flipped the script, winning their match 7-6 by taking the tiebreaker, 7-3, to move to 4-4 on the season. 

The Seahawks carried the momentum into singles play, taking each match that went the distance. Steffen was the first UNCW player off the court, cruising past Soma Fukuhara, 6-1, 6-1 in No. 4 singles. With the victory, Steffen moved to 7-4 on the season.

On court three, Wayand produced his eighth win of the season, a comfortable 6-3, 6-1 win against Oscar Callo von Platen.

Sam Nicholson and Alex de Gabriele earned simultaneous victories on their respective courts. Nicholson defeated Skorjanc 6-2, 6-4 in No. 2 singles and de Gabriele took down Maxime Hankins 7-5, 6-2. 

Huens led Perez Ramos 6-3, 3-2 in No. 1 singles and Domenech led German Lopez 7-5 on court six before both of their matches went unfinished.

UP NEXT

The Seahawks take on Kennesaw State (6-5) on Friday at 2 p.m. at UNCW Courts.