HAWKS PICK UP FIRST WIN WITH 4-3 DEFEAT OF COPPIN STATE G. STAN BRADLEY 03/28/10 UMES drops previous day's decision to St. Mary's (Md.) by the same score. PRINCESS ANNE, Md.-The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Men's Tennis team picked up their first win of the season this past weekend with a 4-3 win over Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) rival Coppin State in a non-conference tilt at the Hawks Outdoor Tennis Complex on Sunday. They almost had two wins over the weekend, taking a heartbreaking defeat by the same score on Saturday to in-state school, St. Mary's. The Hawks got wins over Coppin State at fourth, fifth and sixth singles by default and won the doubles points with wins at second and third doubles, again by default. UMES almost pulled off the singles win at the top spot, as Rashad James fell in a hard -fought match 6-2, 7-5 to James Jeffreys. Emmash Sudusinghe fell at second singles in another tough contest, falling 6-4, 6-1 to Viktor Lemberger. In the previous day's match James did get the win, his first of the season, with a 6-0, 7-5 defeat of the Seahawks' top player, Sam Barton. Dorian Thomas, playing the third singles, also picked up his first win of the season with a 6-3, 6-2 topping of Jeff Levy. UMES also picked up the doubles point, getting wins at first and third doubles. James and Osvaldo Rivera won at third singles, 8 -5, their third of the season, while Thomas and Sudusinghe won 8-4, their first doubles win of the year. Sudusinghe almost got the win at no. 2 singles, falling 6-4, 6-2 to Thomas Hoesman. The closest contest of the day was at no. 5 singles as Rivera fell 4-6, 7-5, 10-2. Either match could have given the Hawks their first win of the season but they waited until the following day to get it, going to 1-8 on the year. "We played well across the board," said Coach Harold Fowler. "We found that we have some issues with mental toughness, but once we get those ironed out it will greatly improve the team."