Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4 Benedict Results (2/2/18)
Coker Results (2/2/18)
Erskine Results (2/3/18)
USC Sumter Results (2/3/18)
Belmont Abbey Results (2/3/18)

SUMTER, S.C. – The Citadel men's tennis team claimed the first five wins of the season over the weekend to take the tournament title at the USC Sumter Invitational. The Bulldogs won 40 of their 45 matchups, including 9-0 sweeps of Benedict College and Belmont Abbey. The Citadel also defeated Coker 8-1, Erskine 6-3 and host USC Sumter 8-1.

"I am so proud of these guys. Winning the USC Sumter tournament was great in multiple ways for our team," said head coach Chuck Kriese. "The guys showed incredible endurance of body, mind and spirit. It is something that great teams are made out of. Our guys' concentration and competitive strength was tested and stretched, but they endured the cold, multiple up and down momentum swings, and came away with five good wins this weekend. The teams came after us and played wide open. It was great to see the guys fight off multiple challenges and to finish so strong. We train hard and the work done turned into confidence this weekend."

Freshman Will Graham, sophomore Jack Pyritz and junior Roy Hobson all went 5-0 in their singles matches over the weekend. Overall, the Bulldogs dropped just one singles match.

The weekend started with matches against Benedict and Coker on Friday, Feb. 2. The Bulldogs (5-8) defeated Benedict 9-0 as Willem van Zyl and Pyritz swept through their singles matches without giving up a point. In both of Friday's matches, five of the six Bulldogs won their singles matches in straight sets.

Saturday, Feb. 3 was filled with tough competition for the Bulldogs as they played three matches against Erskine, USC Sumter and Belmont Abbey. The Flying Fleet of Erskine managed to take three points from the Bulldogs, including No. 1 and No. 2 doubles and No. 2 singles, but the Bulldogs remained resilient throughout singles action. Van Zyl, Hobson, Pyritz, Graham and Trey Davis all won their singles matches in straight sets. Pyritz once again posted perfect 6-0, 6-0 scores over his opponent at No. 4 singles while Hobson went 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3 singles.

In the Bulldogs' match against USC Sumter, the Fire Ants were able to claim the No. 1 doubles point, but the Bulldogs swept through the singles competition. Pyritz, Graham and Gavin Stewart all won their singles matches while relinquishing just one point each and Noah Nawabi played his first match of the season at No. 1 singles, winning 1-6, 6-2, 6-2.

The Bulldogs wrapped up the weekend with a 9-0 win over Belmont Abbey. The Bulldogs won each singles match in straight sets, including Matthew Henson taking No. 2 singles 6-1, 6-1 while Stewart claimed the No. 6 singles point 6-2, 6-1.

UP NEXT
The Citadel will next head to 22^nd-ranked Florida State on Saturday, Feb. 10 before heading to Anderson, South Carolina on Sunday, Feb. 11 for a pair of matches against former SoCon foe, Georgia Southern and Clemson. Saturday's match against the Seminoles will start at 3 p.m. while Sunday's matches will be at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

For more information and score updates on The Citadel men's tennis team, follow @CitadelOlympic on Twitter or visit CitadelSports.com.