ASHLAND, Ohio -- The Davis and Elkins men's tennis team earned a split of their weekend road matches with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Ashland University here Sunday afternoon. 
 
Coming on the heels of a disappointing 7-0 loss at West Liberty Saturday night, the Senators fought back against the Eagles by sweeping the bottom four singles spots for the win. 
 
Vinicius Azerado, Filippo Buffo, Santiago Ordonez, and Anthony Martins each won their matches in straight sets in the comeback win for the Senators.  
 
The Eagles had taken the early lead by eeking out the doubles point in a tie-breaker at the #2 line after the teams had split the first two matches. Ashland got another quick point with a straight set win at #1 singles before D&E put their string of wins together.
 
Ordonez had the clincher at #5 with a 6-3, 6-4 grinder over Ashland's Omar Prince. 
 
"We played our best match of the season today and we couldn't have picked a better time to do it," said coach Mark Walters, who saw his team improve to 4-6 overall. 
 
"We played really well last night (in a loss at West Liberty), and yet had nothing to show for it so getting this one today helped reinforce the payoff for the work the guys are putting in with their approach," said Walters. 
 
Azerado and Buffo won 6-3 at #3 doubles for D&E, and Ordonez and Viktor Yanev had two match points in their doubles, which would have given the Senators their first doubles point of the season. The Eagles held firm, however, and took the match 7-6 (7-4) to get the first point.
 
"We are getting more aggressive and anticipating much better than a month ago, but we are just a step short or too pumped up to execute our opportunities right now," continued Walters about the doubles drought. "But that'll eventually turn our way if we keep attacking and get reps. The fact that we keep coming back to fight in singles is a great sign that we are building character."
 
The Senators are off until Saturday the 8th when they host Frostburg State. 
 
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