Match Results

DETROIT - The men's tennis team hosted the Toledo Rockets Friday evening at the Franklin Athletic Club in Southfield, MI. It was the opening match of the dual season for Toledo and also the opening match at home for Detroit.

The Titans fell by a 6-1 score against a team boasting a few seniors among its top players.

Sophomore Cesar Escobar Serrano (Merliot, El Salvador/Education) picked up his first two wins of the year first pairing with fellow sophomore Chris Cheung (Mississauga, ON/Erindale) to win over Bryant Dudzik and Terence Weigand of Toledo by an 8-3 score.

Serrano then went on to defeat Leo Sarria of the Rockets 6-2, 6-1 in singles play as Serrano moved to 4-0 all-time in his dual career against Toledo.

"I played my first college match against them [Toledo] and won last year, so I think I felt a bit inspired," said Serrano on the win.

With Serrano and Cheung's win, the Titans needed just one more doubles win to take the double's points. The combination of Alex Latosinsky (Sarnia, ON/St. Christopher's) and Pablo Nunez San Jose, Costa Rica/Educacion Abierta) came up just short with an 8-5 defeat despite the home crowd's effort to help cheer them to victory.

Latosinsky would later be the last Titan standing as his singles' battle with Sven Burus in the No. 2 spot was the last match of the night that continued well after the other matches were complete. Burus would end up taking a 10-7 decision in the tiebreaker and bring the home opener for Detroit to a conclusion.

"I'm happy with our team's effort tonight and Cesar played a heck of a match. I think we became more competitive throughout the night and played tough against a polished Toledo team," said head coach Grant Asher.

"There were a couple times tonight where we had a lead and we couldn't hold it. Something we need to work on is putting separation between us and our opponents and gaining the confidence to hold onto that lead. Once we learn how to get comfortable with that, we'll see improved results," continued Asher.

Detroit now moves to 0-4 on the season and will prepare for its next competition next Friday against Dayton at the Franklin Athletic Club. The contest is scheduled to start at 8:00 p.m.