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Hanover Box Score

The Capital University men's tennis team started its spring break trip on a high note, winning a pair of dual matches on its first day of competition on Kissimmee, Fla.

The Crusaders (3-1 overall) started the day with an impressive 5-4 victory over Augustana, taking four closely contested singles matches to secure it. Capital later defeated Hanover 7-1.

The Crusaders needed every point to avenge a 9-0 setback against Augustana (5-2) last season. After the team dropped its first two doubles matches, the No. 3 pair of freshmen Gian Carlo DiMichelangelo (Westerville, Ohio) and Jared Judson (Dublin, Ohio) combined for an 8-3 win to cut the Capital deficit in half.

The Crusaders then won four singles matches, including two in three sets and one with a second-set tiebreaker, to clinch the dual victory. Sophomore Kenny Duncan (Poland, Ohio) defeated the Vikings' Andy Wall 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8) at No. 2 singles, and Judson knocked off John Alexander 6-0, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5). Freshmen Luke Buchanan (Westerville, Ohio) and Spencer Walter (Hilliard, Ohio) registered straight set wins at the Nos. 1 and 4 spots, respectively.

Against Hanover (0-2), Capital swept the doubles matches by a combined 24-12 score and took home four of the five completed singles matches.

Buchanan and Walter teamed up for an 8-5 victory at first doubles, while Duncan and senior John Murray (Bolingbrook, Ill.) claimed an 8-6 triumph at No. 2. DiMichelangelo and Judson won their second match of the day as a pair, 8-1.

Murray, Walter, DiMichelangelo and Dotson each earned victories at the Nos. 3 through 6 slots, respectively. Dotson needed three sets to defeat the Panthers' Joshua Ruse 4-6, 7-6 (1), 1-0 (10-5).

The Crusaders conclude play in Florida tomorrow against Alma (Mich.) and Concordia (Minn.). The Alma dual is set to begin at 9 a.m., with the Concordia match scheduled for 2 p.m.