DETROIT (1/24/13) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's tennis team will return to action as it heads to Ball State on Friday at 6:00 p.m. and then to Xavier on Saturday for a 7:00 p.m. match-up.
 
Freshman Rafael Orantes leads the Titans with a pair of singles wins in three matches while Chris Cheung earned a win when the Titans were last in action against Toledo on Sunday. Orantes earned his first collegiate win against Texas Christian (TCU), 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-5) in the No. 6 spot and followed it with a win against Toledo in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0, playing in the No. 5 position.
 
In doubles action at Toledo, UDM was led by the pair of Cesar Escobar Serrano and Cheung as they blanked their opponents at third doubles, 8-0. Alex Latosinsky and Mike Basha also defeated their opponents, 8-6. Jay Joshi and Orantes were up 7-5 (40-30) before the final doubles match of the contest was called.
 
Ball State is 0-2 after a 4-2 loss to #16 Northern Illinois (1/13) and a 6-1 loss at Northwestern (1/19). 
 
Ray Leonard and Patrick Eliot both led the Cardinals as they won their singles matches against Northern Illinois while the doubles teams of Cliff Morison and Elliot and Alexandre Brym and Imanol Arconada both won doubles matches. The only point earned against Northwestern came on a withdrawal.

Xavier has won two straight matches after dropping its season opener to #4 Ohio State, 6-1. The Musketeers defeated Cleveland State, 5-2, and blanked IUPUI, 7-0.
 
Xavier is led by the #55 ranked doubles pair of Jimmy Roebker and Mesa Mei. Mei was the lone winner at second singles against OSU and downed both CSU and IUPUI to earn a perfect 3-0 record in the young dual match season.
 
Detroit returns home for two matches at the Franklin Athletic Club to kickoff the month of February against Grand Valley State on Feb. 1 and then Wayne State on Feb. 2.