Fort Wayne, Ind. - The Marian men's tennis team kicked off their 2022 Crossroads League season with a pair of victories, sweeping St. Francis and Spring Arbor 7-0 in their first matches of the year. The two wins gives Marian a 2-0 start in Crossroads League play.

Marian 7-0 St. Francis 

The Knights made quick work of St. Francis in their morning match, getting a win at No. 3 doubles from Max Sternberg and Jake Giles as the pair won 6-1, while Jared Thomas and Ashwin Bhat won at No. 1 doubles by a 6-2 score. At No. 2 doubles, Marian led with the pair of Dmitrii Voshchenkov and Gavin Dardeen leading 5-3. 

In singles, the Knights blanked the Cougars winning all six matches. Shadi Al Tori nothced his first collegiate win with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles, while Thomas won at No. 4 singles 6-1, 6-4. Jacob Wittenbaum clinched the match at No. 2 singles with his 6-3, 7-5 win, and Dardeen won a three set match at No. 1, winning 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (4). 

Giles and Sternberg rounded out the shutout with wins at No. 5 and No. 6, with Giles claiming a 6-1, 7-6 (2) win at five while Sternberg won in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0.

Marian 7-0 Spring Arbor

Marian switched up the lineup for their second match of the day, rotating in fresh bodies as Marian picked up the doubles point with wins on two of the three courts. Al Tori and Jona Henze teamed up for a 6-1 victory at No. 3 doubles, while Andy Ilett and Mark Griffin won 6-1 at No. 1 doubles. Going unfinished on the No. 2 doubles court was Wittenbaum and Armando Lopez, as the duo led 5-2 as the doubles concluded.

In singles, Griffin led the way with the first win claiming a victory at No. 1 with a 6-1, 6-2 victory. Voshchenkov took Marian's second win in singles with a quick 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 4, and clinching the match was Ilett, who won 7-5, 6-1 at No. 3 singles. Rounding out the shutout win was Henze at No. 2 singles with his 3-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10) victory, Bhat's 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 5, and Lopez's 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles. 

Marian will be back in action September 7 as they travel to Bethel for a tri-match. The team will play Bethel at 9:30 AM and follow with Huntington at 1 PM.

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