Box Score GREENSBORO, N.C.-Playing one of their most competitive and entertaining matches so far this season, the Fairfield University men's tennis team wrapped up its Spring Break trip to North Carolina on Tuesday afternoon with a hard-fought 4-3 loss at UNC Greensboro. Seeing action for the third straight day, Fairfield is now 3-8 overall; while the host Spartans move to 4-6 on the year.
Fairfield got off to a quick start in their Tobacco Road finale winning the doubles point as Sam Hodges and Thomas Smart triumphed at number one, 6-4, and the combo of Nick Condos and Will O'Brien won at number two with an identical 6-4 set score.
The difference in Tuesday's match was razor thin, as the hosts earned a win at number four singles and first-year Luca Benaibbouche tied things up for the visitors with a straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, victory in the number six slot, but UNC Greensboro would clinch the victory with three, three-set wins in the number one through three singles flights.
Thomas Smart at number one (6-4, 1-6, 4-6), Sam Hodges at number two (3-6, 6-2, 5-7) and Nick Condos at number three (1-6, 6-3, 2-6) all battled but came up just short of the win column on Tuesday.
Sophomore Kostas Kollias ended the match on a positive note for the Stags earning a three-set victory at number five singles, (7-6 (5),2-6, 7-5.
Up next, the Fairfield men's tennis team is scheduled to open the outdoor northern portion of its 2024 schedule with a home match against future conference opponent, the Merrimack College Warriors on Sunday, March 10. First serve at the WAC Tennis Courts is set for 12 noon.