DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - UNC Wilmington captured the doubles point, but couldn't hold on as No. 59 East Tennessee State slipped past the No. 48 Seahawks, 4-3, in a men's tennis match Tuesday at the Stetson University courts.

      The two ranked teams met at a neutral site during their respective spring break trips to Florida and the Bucs rallied to even their record at 5-5 this season. UNCW lost its third in a row to fall to 7-4.

     "You have to give credit to ETSU for playing a great match," said Mait DuBois, UNCW's third-year coach. The close match featured six tie-breakers. "Anytime you lose a close match by a couple points on a number of courts, it's a tough one. They have a very good team."

      The Seahawks won the doubles point behind victories at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. Newcomer Max Ando Hirsh and junior Kinshuk Sharma downed ETSU's Juan Ramirez and Grega Teraz, 8-4, at the top slot, while Michael Pereira and Alex Wetherell edged Robin Akser and Daniel Isaza, 8-6, at No. 3 doubles.

      ETSU, which won its third straight, then claimed wins at No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6 singles to nail down the match.

      Pereira and Wetherell managed UNCW's lone two victories in singles. Pereira cruised past Gille, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 1 singles and Wetherell outlasted Jeremy Bonnevalle, 7-6, 7-6, in a tightly contested match at the No. 5 slot.

      The Seahawks wrap up their Florida trip on Thursday (March 11) with a 2:30 p.m. match against host Stetson.

      Coach Mait DuBois and the Seahawk netters then return home to entertain Samford, Drake and New Orleans in the 2010 Battle at the Beach at the UNCW courts.