AGATE

ELON, N.C – The 66^th-ranked Elon University men's tennis team earned its first win of the season today, Feb. 11, in a 5-2 defeat of Campbell at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.
 
"It was good to get our first win," Elon head coach Michael Leonard said. "We had a tough start to the season playing some top teams and unfortunately we've been hurt and beat up, but I feel like today was a good start in the right direction. It was a good win against a good Campbell team."
 
Stefan Fortmann, Brian Kowalski, Jordan Kaufman and Chris Humphreys each notched singles victories to push the Phoenix over the hump.
 
Kaufman lost only three games en route to a 6-1, 6-2 win over the Camels' Lucas Schaefer on court No. 3, while Kowalski won a 6-4, 7-5 decision at No. 4 singles. Fortmann fell behind early to Campbell's Steven Billington after losing the first set, but responded by handily winning the next two sets to finish off a 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 win and clinch the match for Elon.
 
Humphreys added a point for the Phoenix with a 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 1-0 (10-5) triumph at No. 6 singles.
 
Elon jumped out to a 1-0 lead after wins on two of the three doubles courts. Fortmann and Kowalski defeated Campbell's top duo of Billington and Jonathan O'Neal, 8-5, while Kaufman and Juan Madrid secured the point with an 8-4 victory at No. 2 doubles.
 
Elon improves to 1-6 on the season and is now 6-1 against Campbell dating back to 2000.
 
The Phoenix hosts North Carolina A&T and Presbyterian in a doubleheader Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. Play against the Aggies is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. with the match against Presbyterian to follow at 1:30 p.m.