WEST LIBERTY, W. Va. – The Washington & Jefferson College dropped their 2025 spring season opener to Division II West Liberty, 5-1.
 
The Hilltoppers pick up their first victory of the season while the Presidents drop to 1-4.
 
The Presidents dropped the opening doubles at No. 1 and 2 doubles to concede the first team point of the match to West Liberty, 1-0. Abhinav Yarramaneni (Mountain View, Calif./Los Altos) and Srivatsa Bellamkonda (Sewickley, Pa./North Allegheny) picked up the first victory for W&J at No. 3 doubles. The partners logged a 6-2 victory over Chris Burns and Robert Lindsey of the Hilltoppers.
 
In singles, the Presidents dropped the No. 1 singles match in straight sets. At No. 2 singles, Jackson Akers (Logan, W. Va./Logan) put up a valiant effort against West Liberty's Barney Cowan. Akers won the first set 6-4 before getting blanked in the second set, 6-0. In the tie-breaking third set, Akers dropped a 10-5 decision to the Hilltoppers.
 
The Presidents picked up their second and final victory of the day at No. 5 singles. Bellamkonda won in straight sets over Chris Burns of West Liberty, 6-2, 6-0. Aarav Surapaneni (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon Area) won the first set of his No. 6 singles match, 7-5, prior to the close of the match.
 
W&J looks to bounce back in their Presidents' Athletic Conference opener on Thursday (March 20) where they take on the Geneva Golden Tornadoes. The match is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. at the Janet Swanson Tennis Center.