Box Score
 
KALAMAZOO (1/15/2015) -- It came right down to the wire in a thrilling season opener, but the University of Detroit Mercy men's tennis team couldn't complete the comeback falling to Midwest-rival Western Michigan, 4-3, on Thursday at the West Hills Athletic Club in Kalamazoo.

"It was a great opening match," said head coach Grant Asher. "The guys competed really well and it was a heartbreaker to lose at the end. We need to improve our doubles point and guys need to get a little more aggressive there. I am not happy with a loss, but we were very competitive against a good team and we will build on this."
 
The Titans (0-1) got behind right from the start as WMU (1-0) earned the doubles point winning all three matches, but the red, white and blue rallied capturing three of the first five singles matches to make it a 3-3 contest with just one showdown left.
 
Junior Rafael Orantes was the last Titan playing and he had a comeback of his own as he lost the first set, 7-6, before evening things up with a 6-3 score in the second. With the match on the line, the third-year netter battled hard and nearly came up with the triumph as he was upended 6-3.
 
Freshman Nathan Ponton started the surge with a dominating 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 4, while sophomore Kacper Stelmaszak beat his counterpart, 6-3, 7-5, at No. 3. Sophomore Patryk Koscielski then knotted the match at 3-3 as he posted a 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 victory at No. 1 singles.

"Patryk played outstanding at No. 1 singles and led us and the new guys in Kacper and Nathan were very solid," added Coach Asher. 
 
Two other Titans had chances at wins on the day as sophomore Chance Conley was edged in his match at No. 6, 6-2, 7-5, and senior Jay Joshi lost a tough three-setter, 4-6, 6-3, 1-6.

"We need to learn to play a little more disciplined and under pressure, but I was happy with the way we just competed out there," said Coach Asher. "To almost beat WMU at the top four singles is a statement to our conference."
 
The Titans will be back in action on Saturday as Detroit plays another MAC foe traveling to Ball State for a 2:00 p.m. match. The homer opener is set for Sunday as the red, white and blue entertain Toledo at 6:00 p.m., at the Franklin Athletic Complex in Southfield.