EWING, N.J. – The TCNJ men's tennis team opened its dual-match season with a resilient 6-3 victory over Division II University of the Sciences inside the Rec Center on Saturday.
Akul Telluri was a double winner for the Lions, who took two of three doubles courts and four of six singles tilts.
Telluri and
Nick Matkiwsky came through in a big way on the doubles court, breaking a 1-1 stalemate with an 8-7 (4) tiebreaker victory over Borna Markusic and Eli Gan-Dy on the No. 2 court.
Derek Jordan and
Nikola Kilibarda posted a resounding 8-3 result at No. 3 doubles to offset the Devils' win on the top court.
Matthew Michibata was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Jack Kosiorowski at No. 1 singles, and
Dorian Makarski rolled to a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 4 to give TCNJ a 4-2 lead heading into the final three matches.
USciences (1-2) won the first set on two of the three remaining courts and went to a third-set super-breaker in the other, but the Lions managed to hold off the charge.
Adrian Tsui overturned a late deficit to snatch a 6-3, 6-7 (4), 10-8 marathon with Gan-Dy at No. 3, clinching TCNJ's triumph.
Telluri, meanwhile, dropped the first set at No. 5 before turning the tables in the second, grabbing that one 6-4 before his Devil opponent retired due to injury.
The Lions get right back to action on Sunday, when they take on Division I Lafayette at Tennis Zone in Quakertown.
