ORLANDO, Fla. (March 16, 2018) – Howard University Men's Tennis team battled, but were unable to come away victorious as they lost a tough bout against Chicago State (CSU), 5-2, at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla.
 
Freshman Kyle Martin picked up his first collegiate singles victory by defeating CSU's Cody Wurzelbacher in straight sets (6-4, 6-3). Howard (0-8) earn its other point by default due to not enough players from the Cougars.
 
In singles play, sophomore Cole Gittens served as the squad's No. 3 player where he went the distance with Chicago State's George Botha. After dropping the first set, 3-6, the New York native rebounded and forced a deciding third set with a 6-3 win in set two. Botha would narrowly escape with the victory in set three and take the match, 5-7.
 
In doubles competition, the Cougars won both matches despite HU taking the early advantage.
 
On March 24, both squads hit the road to Hampton, Va. where they will meet Hampton in conference play. The Battle of the Real HU on the court starts at 2 p.m.

Howard vs. Chicago State
March 16, 2018 at Orlando, Fla.
(USTA National Campus)

SINGLES COMPETITION

1. Savard, Felix (CSUM) def. LYN,Roger (HU) 6-4, 6-1
2. Wattley, Rohan (CSUM) def. SHOKEIR,Karim (HU) 7-5, 6-4
3. Botha, George (CSUM) def. GITTENS,Cole (HU) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
4. Gonzalez, Christian (CSUM) def. RAJU,Sagar (HU) 6-1, 6-1
5. MARTIN,Kyle (HU) def. Wurzelbacher, Cody (CSUM) 6-4, 6-3
6. TYUS,Benjamin (HU) def. No player (CSUM), by default

DOUBLES COMPETITION

1. Gonzalez, Christian/Savard, Felix (CSUM) def. SHOKEIR,Karim/RAJU,Sagar (HU) 6-4
2. Wattley, Rohan/Botha, George (CSUM) def. GITTENS,Cole/MARTIN,Kyle (HU) 6-2
3. LYN,Roger/BLACKBURN,Devaughn (HU) def. No player/No player (CSUM), by default

MATCH NOTES
Howard 0-8
Chicago State 5-11
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,4,5,1,2,3)
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.