NEWPORT NEWS, VA -- The seventh-seeded University of Delaware men's tennis team defeated No. 10 seed George Mason 4-0 on Thursday afternoon in the first round of the Colonial Athletic Association Championships at Huntington Park Tennis Center, repeating last year's opening-round shutout of the Patriots.

The Blue Hens (9-6, 3-1 CAA) were paced by sophomore Austin Longacre (at right) and junior Nolan Greenberg, who picked up an 8-3 win over GMU's Brian Fitzgerald and Dan Schneider at first doubles. Longacre also came to within a set of breaking Jon Zolin's 34-year-old school record for singles wins in a season, but his first-singles match with Fitzgerald was called midway through the second frame because UD had already clinched the victory.

In other singles action, sophomore Sam Barrer routed Schneider 6-1, 6-0 at the third spot, senior Jonathan Schwartz impressed in a 6-2, 6-0 romp over the Patriots' Jordan Lipstock at No. 5, and sophomore sixth man Camilo Perez overwhelmed Martin Brown 6-0, 6-0 to complete the Hens' sweep of the three singles matches that were completed.

Schwartz and freshman Chris Hincker topped GMU's Anastas Budagov and Harwood Hoskins 8-3 at third doubles to secure Delaware's final point of the day.

Greenberg led Budagov 6-3, 2-0 in his bid to avenge a straight-sets loss to Budagov three weeks ago, but their second-singles match was never finished because Delaware had built an insurmountable lead by that time. Hincker was up 6-2, 5-0 on Hoskins at No. 4 when their match was called.

UD, which improved to 5-0 all-time in the first round of the CAA Championships, advances to face second-seeded William & Mary on Friday at 11:30 a.m.

AGATE:

Delaware 4, George Mason 0

First Singles - Austin Longacre (UD) led Brian Fitzgerald (GMU), 6-4, 0-4 (DNF). Second Singles - Nolan Greenberg (UD) led Anastas Budagov (GMU), 6-3, 2-0 (DNF). Third Singles - Sam Barrer (UD) d. Dan Schneider (GMU), 6-1, 6-0. Fourth Singles - Chris Hincker (UD) led Harwood Hoskins (GMU), 6-2, 5-0 (DNF). Fifth Singles - Jonathan Schwartz (UD) d. Jordan Lipstock (GMU), 6-2, 6-0. Sixth Singles - Camilo Perez (UD) d. Martin Brown (GMU), 6-0, 6-0. First Doubles - Longacre/Greenberg (UD) d. Fitzgerald/Schneider (GMU), 8-3. Second Doubles - Lipstock/Matthew Vaughn (GMU) led Barrer/Perez (UD), 4-6 (DNF). Third Doubles - Hincker/Schwartz (UD) d. Budagov/Hoskins (GMU), 8-3.