GREENSBORO, N.C. – Between points and during idle moments of his match, Christopher Johns kept stretching. He bent down and grabbed his foot. Massaged his sore hamstring. Soothed his aching quad muscles.
 
Johns was also super focused.
 
So locked in that he didn't realize he concluded UNCG's 5-2 victory over Mercer in a Southern Conference battle at the Piedmont Indoor Tennis Center Thursday afternoon with a nice forehand shot down the line that sent his teammates into a frenzy.
 
"I was really exhausted and towards the end, I was starting to cramp up," Johns said. "I was trying to figure out how to win points quickly and luckily I made enough big shots to pull it out in the end. I didn't even know what the score was I didn't even realize I had won my match. I didn't even know what the game score or match score was. I just wanted to get a point and move on to the next.  The goal was to win one point at a time."
 
After stretching, of course, Johns actually walked back to end line to begin to receive another serve until his happy teammates informed him that the match was finished and began walking toward him.
 
While blocking out the pain, Johns shook his head in disbelief, smiled, and accepted congratulatory high-fives and hugs from his sweaty teammates.
 
It was a nice victory for Johns and the Spartans, who once again overcame the inconvenience of losing the doubles point to storm back for a memorable victory. In all three SoCon wins this season over The Citadel, Samford, and Mercer, the Spartans lost the doubles point before dominating singles' matches.
 
A sophomore business administration major, Johns had a day to cherish as he won at No. 3 doubles with Hampus Johansson, 6-3, and at No. 5 singles with a thrilling, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 triumph despite the discomfort he was experiencing. Johns and Johansson improved to 2-0 as a doubles pair.
 
"Getting two wins today is good momentum heading into this weekend," Johns said. "I just started focusing on my serve because I knew I'd have opportunities to break him. So, just taking care of my service games was key. I gave it my all and ended up on the right side today."
 
How It Happened

• In improving to 3-0 at the Piedmont Indoor Tennis Center this season, the Spartans also got singles wins from Nico Grewe, Alexander Zuckerman, Hugh Knapp, and Roger Rogowski.
• Five of the six singles matches were decided in three sets, so this match was a lot closer than the final score.
• Zuckerman, Knapp, Rogowski, and Johns showed tremendous resolve in rallying to win the final set after losing the second set in each of their matches.
• Grewe was the only Spartan to win in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 1 singles.
• Knapp has won seven straight singles matches.
• It was Knapp's 12th singles victory of the season.
• Grewe earned his 10th singles win of the season.
• Rogowski won his seventh singles match.

 
Up Next

• UNCG hosts Furman on Sunday at 3 p.m.