WOOSTER, Ohio - The West Liberty University men's tennis team began the 2023 spring season with a 4-3 win Saturday morning on the road at Ashland University.

The Eagles got on the board picking up the doubles point with tiebreak wins in the first two matchups. Nevio Dux and Joao Benvenutti were able to avoid the Ashland sweep in doubles with a 6-2 win in the third slot.

Dux and Gianluca Gerndt finished first in singles in action giving the Hilltoppers a 2-1 lead. Dux posted identical 6-4 wins in a sweep at singles #2, while Gerndt swept his singles #3 combatant by scores of 6-4 and 6-3.

The teams split the next two finishing singles matches, The top spot went to Ashland (7-6, 6-4), then freshman Roberto Esquivel earned his first win in the Black and Gold (7-5, 6-2) in singles #5. 

The Eagles tied the match after a three-set win in singles #4, but senior Zarion Jones was able to clinch the West Liberty victory in a three-set win of his own in the final match to finish (singles #6). Jones fell behind with a 6-4 loss in set one. He battled right back and picked up back-to-back hard-fought set wins, 7-6 and 12-10, fending off eight match points in the final set to secure the individual and team victory. 

The Hilltoppers will be back in action on February 18 for their home and conference opener against West Virginia State inside the Wheeling Park Bubble.

Follow the Hilltoppers all season online at HilltopperSports.com and on Twitter (@WLU_MTennis | @WLathletics), Instagram (@wlu_mtennis | @wlu_athletics), and Facebook.