INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian men's tennis team earned a thrilling season-opening victory on Tuesday afternoon, as Marian scored their first Crossroads League win of the year in a 4-3 win against Bethel University. The Knights win came down to the final point and against weather threat, with Andrew Ilett scoring the winning point.

Marian took the doubles point from the Pilots, as they won two of the three matches while leading at the third. Andrew Ilett and Borja Delgado won at No. 1 doubles by a 6-3 score against Victor Bonsergent and Luka Markovic to score the first point, while at No. 2 doubles James Ashworth and Luis Sobanski won 6-4 over Santiago Flores and Daniel Jancic. Marian was leading on the third court of doubles, with Jones McNamar and Ashwin Bhat holding a 5-4 lead over Nicolo Marchetti and Adriano de Oliveira at No. 3 doubles.

In singles, Marian scored the first point with Ashworth landing a 6-3, 6-1 win over Flores at No. 3 singles, pushing the match score to 2-0 in favor of the Knights. At No. 2 singles, the Pilots were able to claw back and score their first point, with Markovic defeating Sobanski 6-4, 6-2. Bethel would level the match as the next court finished, with Marchetti defeating Jan Bartolome 6-3, 6-2.

With the match tied at 2-2, Marian looked to get a go-ahead point at No. 1 singles, with Borja Delgado taking on Bonsergent. Delgado dropped his first set 3-6, but came roaring back with wins in the second and third by 6-2 and 6-4 counts to push Marian ahead 3-2. The lead would not stick as Jona Henze was unable to clinch at No. 6, falling to Jancic 3-6, 6-0, 6-4, as the match once again drew to a tie with a 3-3 score.

Eyes turned to the final court with Ilett taking on de Oliveira. Marian's Ilett dropped his first set of No. 5 singles by a 7-5 score, but took the second 6-3. Ilett then attacked the third set, winning by a 6-2 score to clinch his match and the win the contest for Marian, as the Knights claimed a 4-3 win.

Marian will now look forward to their next matchup on Thursday following the win, as the Knights host Indiana Wesleyan at 3 p.m. at the Marian Tennis Courts.

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