BREVARD, N.C. - The Newberry College men's tennis squad could not keep up with a strong Brevard team which was competing in its first South Atlantic Conference match of 2011 as the Wolves fell by a score of 8-1 at the McCoy Tennis Complex.

The Wolves dropped to 3-9 overall and 2-3 in league play while the Tornados improved their mark to 7-5 and 1-0 in the SAC.

The Wolves got off on the wrong foot in the doubles flights with Vinicius Botelho (Fortaleza, Brazil) and Ross Sons (Lexington, S.C.) taking on Scott McCormick and Beau Wills. The Brevard duo opened up the match with an 8-1 victory.

Michael Saunders (Christchurch, New Zealand) and Mohammed Chakir (Rabat, Morocco) played a tough match against Sam MacNeil and Jonathon Lavelle but ultimately fell by an 8-6 score.

James Bethea (Newberry, S.C.) and Jeffery Kiser (Newberry, S.C.) could not avenge the opening pair of losses by their teammates, falling to Jarred Fisher and Shane Apps by a score of 8-5.

The Wolves' fortunes would not improve in the singles matches. Saunders was on the wrong end of a 6-2, 6-0 decision against McCormick before Botelho dropped a heartbreaker against MacNeil 3-6, 6-3, 10-5.

Chakir would drop his battle with Wills 6-2, 6-3 before Sons recorded Newberry's sole team point in the afternoon match. The freshman picked up a 6-1, 6-4 victory against Lavelle for his fourth victory of the season. Joel Hicks (West Columbia, S.C.) wrapped up the match with a 6-0, 6-1 loss to Apps.

The Wolves set aside their conference schedule for a bit as they welcome North Greenville to Newberry. The match is set to begin at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23, at the Cannon Courts.