ORLANDO, Fla. – The Capital University men's tennis team took one win away from its doubleheader that wrapped up its mid-semester break trip. The Crusaders dropped a 9-0 decision to Ave Maria College (Fla.) before defeating Clark University (Mass.) by one point.

MATCH 1 – Capital 0, Ave Maria 9  |  results

Capital put up a good challenge in doubles play, falling in the top-flight doubles match by just two points and in the third flight, 8-4. Luke Buchanan and Jared Judson paired up for the first time to form Capital's top team, but lost to the combination of David Zuleta and Brian Schmidt, 8-6. Dale Booher and Santino DiMichaelangelo teamed up in the number-three spot, but drew an 8-4 loss.

Zuleta and Buchanan faced off again in singles play with Ave Maria earning the point (6-3, 6-3). Booher assumed his role in the number-two spot but also played to a loss, 6-3, 6-0.

MATCH 2 – Capital 5, Clark 4  |  results

The Crusaders doubles pairings helped the team jump out to a 2-1 lead with wins from Buchanan/Judson (8-4) and Booher/S. DiMichaelangelo (8-3). Three of those four also won their respective singles matches. Buchanan defeated Andrey Samodaev by a 6-1, 6-1 count while Booher downed Fernando Pinoargote by identical 6-2 scores.

It came down to the wire with both teams possessing an opportunity to come away with the win, but in the end the back of the Capital lineup did the job with S. DiMichaelangelo taking the win at number-six to claim victory. He defeated Mateo Gomez in tiebreaking fashion by a score of 6-2, 2-6, 1-0 (4).

Capital comes away from its spring trip having played a host of tough competitors and a 1-4 record over the course of the week. They are now 3-6 overall and will return to the North to play Franklin College (Ind.) and Wabash College (Ind.) in Crawfordsville, Ind. on Saturday, March 19.