TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The Earlham College men's tennis team opened the season on Saturday with a 9-0 victory over the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

The Quakers swept the doubles action in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference contest against the Engineers (0-1, 0-1) and later they didn't drop a set in the singles competition.

"It's a great start to the season to get a 9-0 win against a solid team like Rosé Hulman," Earlham Head Coach Adam Van Zee said. "We started a little flat, but picked up our play as the match progressed. We will use this match as a learning tool, specifically for the young guys and move forward."

Anton Bartashevich (Moscow, Russia, International) and Jack Ventura-Cruess (Placentia, CA, El Dorado) defeated Ben Paras and Devon Fritz 8-2 at No. 1 doubles. At No. 2, Phillip Locklear (Springboro, OH, Springboro) and Kyle Richter (Fremont, CA, Mission San Jose) teamed up to post an 8-4 victory over Matthew Conrad and Nate Moore. Andrey Gavrilov (Yaroslavl, Russia, Universal) and Brad Maisey (Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, Tauranga Boys) won 8-2 over Randy Billingsley and Todd Miller at No. 3.

In singles play, Locklear blanked Paras 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1.

"Phillip came out and played a great first dual match in singles against an experienced senior so that has to be a confidence booster for him.

Bartashevich won 6-2, 6-2 over Fritz at No. 2. At. No. 3, Richter beat Moore 6-2, 6-1. Ventura-Cruess defeated Conrad 6-2, 6-1 at No. 4.

Gavrilov won 6-1, 6-1 over Billingsley at No. 5, while Maisey beat Miller 6-1, 6-1 at No. 6.

Earlham (1-0, 1-0) returns to action on Sunday against Franklin College in Terre Haute. The HCAC match starts at 8 a.m.

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