Two doubles teams were in action today for the Owls at the USTA/ITA Atlantic Regional Championship Friday.

Senior Kacper Rams and sophomore Kristian Marquart won their first round match, defeating Old Dominion’s freshman Zvonimir Podvinski and junior Dante Terenzio 8-6. Coach Steve Mauro said Rams was hampered by an arm injury during the match. The injury should not prevent him from playing, Mauro said.

Sophomore Hernan Vasconez and freshman Hicham Belkssir lost their first round match 8-6 to the James Madison team of seniors Hugo Ramadier and Florent Sentenac. Vasconez normally plays with freshman Nicolas Paulus, but Paulus is nursing an injured neck, so Belkssir stepped in.

Marquart was the only Owl to play a singles match today. He fell to Ramadier 7-5, 6-4. Mauro gave Ramadier credit and said that he was very happy with Marquart’s fall season.

Saturday, Rams will play his first singles match of the tournament. He will face off against Longwood sophomore Daniel Elston in the second round of the main draw. Rams had a bye in the first round.

Rams and Marquart will battle the Virginia Tech team of sophomore Hunter Koontz and senior Trpimir Kujundzic in the second round of the doubles draw.

Mauro said that there will likely be consolation singles matches set up for Vasconez, Marquart, and Belkssir. Those matchups have not been determined.

-Evan Cross