Fredericksburg, Va. - The men's tennis team of North Carolina Wesleyan was in action this weekend at the University of Mary Washington's Kickoff Classic. The Bishops faired well in the three-day tourney with a combined 13-5 record in singles and doubles play versus Washington & Lee and UMW, who were ranked 20th and 21st, respectively, in last season's final ITA national poll.

Also competing in the tournament were Division I affiliates George Mason and Longwood. The Bishops managed a 6-3 mark in doubles play, with all three losses coming to their D-I counterparts. The duos of Robert Kjellberg/Artsiom Prostak, Panayot Kusidi/Peter Hviid and Mikhail Konnov/Clayton Sonn all turned in 2-1 marks with two consolation championships to their credit.  Kjellberg/Prostak knocked off W&L's White/Goldstein 8-3, while Konnov/Sonn downed GMU's Sargent/Hyre 8-4.

In singles action, Kjellberg, Sonn and Iraklii Marutian recorded two victories apiece.  Kjellberg began with a three-set win over GMU's Davis (3-6, 7-6(5), 6-3) and later defeated White of W&L in straights (6-1, 6-1). The talented junior eventually fell to Khmiadashvili of Longwood in the draw's championship in three sets (7-5, 0-6, 6-3).

Sonn's two wins came in straights over W&L's Holt (6-1, 6-3) and UMW's Nguyen (7-5, 7-5), while Marutian picked up victories over UMW's Byrd (6-3, 6-4) and W&L's Eckstein (3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (2)).

Wesleyan returns to action on Friday when they travel to Elon University to compete in the Phoenix's Fall Invitational.