For the first time this century, a men's tennis team other than Mary Washington claimed the CAC title as Christopher Newport downed UMW 5-3 on Saturday at the UMW Indoor Tennis Center. 

The victory marked the first-ever CAC title for the Captains and halted UMW's 17-year streak atop the conference. With the win, CNU earns the CAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. NCAA Tournament pairings will be announced on May 8. 

It is the first loss for Mary Washington against a conference opponent since 2008, ending a run of 80 straight wins.

The Captains picked up two wins in doubles to take the early advantage. The No. 1 doubles team of David Reed and Justin Cerny combined for an 8-3 win over Ryland Byrd and Michael Fleming. UMW's Derek Hagino and Matt Miles countered with an 8-6 win at No. 2 over CNU's Andy Mason and William Trang. In the final doubles out, CNU's Michael Dodd and Arttu Fiva outlasted Patrick Hughes and Joseph Brown 8-6 to give the Captains the 2-1 edge entering singles play. 

Christopher Newport extended the lead to 3-1 with the first win in individual play, as Nicholas Ruzicka downed Ryland Byrd  6-0, 7-5. 

Hagino answered for the Eagles with a 7-6, 6-3 triumph at No. 5 over CNU's Trang at the No. 5 position, pulling UMW within 3-2. 

The Eagles then got back all square at 3-3 with the win at No. 1, as Miles slipped by Reed in a three-set battle (6-3, 3-6, 6-4).

At the No. 2 spot, Cerny posted a 6-4, 6-4 win over Hughes to put the Captains within one point of the title, before Dominic Lacombe close out the victory with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 triumph at No. 4.