The marathon weekend is finally over for the men's tennis team. The Lions split a two-contest affair Sunday, beating Old Dominion and losing to William & Mary. On Monday, the team lost to a strong Virginia squad.

The Lions (3-7) were forced to play a different format on Sunday with both teams because the matches were played indoors, where there are few courts. The new format is a four and one system in which the singles and doubles matches are played at the same time. This creates a problem since the singles players can't play in the doubles matches.

"Sometimes it (the new format) works for the good and sometimes it works for the bad," Coach Holmes Cathrall said. "Evidently it worked pretty good for us."

Against a good William & Mary team the Lions fell just short in their quest for a win, losing, 3-2. The two bright spots for the Lions were No. 2 Dave Schoenly winning, 6-1, 6-2 and No. 4 Corey Goldstein winning, 7-5, 6-2.

"The kids played really well, they played good against William and Mary," Cathrall said.

But the big win came against an excellent Old Dominion team. No. 1 Jason Rayman led the way for the Lions winning, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 and No. 3 Mark Price won, 7-5, 6-4. In the final singles match Goldstein clinched the victory, 6-4, 6-4.

"They really put it together against ODU; they played a real good match," Cathrall said.

The win over Old Dominion is significant not only because the Lions beat a good team but because it put them a good frame of mind for the Virginia match.

"Any win is a pretty big win for us," Rayman said. "It was a good win for us, it gives us a little boost."

"I think we're coming together, it's a good win," Cathrall agreed.

But against Virginia, the team lost all its' singles matches for a final score of 6-0.

Cathrall believed that playing indoors the past two matches might have thrown off the team it played Virginia outdoors.

"We didn't adjust quickly enough to the outdoor surface," Cathrall said. "This is the best team we've played on this trip."

Still, things seem to be only getting better for the Lions as the season progresses. "It took us a little while after the fall season (to get comfortable)," Rayman said. "Things are now settling down."