BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College men's tennis team (1-7, 1-0) opened up Presidents Athletic Conference play with a 5-2 win over the Geneva Golden Tornadoes (3-3, 1-2) to record the team's first victory of the season.
 
The Presidents got themselves out in front early by claiming the doubles point. Juniors Jacob Bennett (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington Central) and Nick Bussard (New Kensington, Pa./Valley) opened the contest with a 6-2 win at No. 3 doubles. Senior captain Jackson Akers (Logan, W. Va./Logan) and freshman Colby Peters (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock Township) secured the 1-0 lead for W&J with a tight 7-5 win at No. 2 doubles.
 
The bottom of the lineup came through for the Presidents to take the singles points needed for the overall victory. Senior captain battled to a three-set win at No. 3 singles by a 6-1, 1-6, 6-0 scoreline. Senior captain Nate Clarke (New Kensington, Pa./Valley) came through with a straightforward 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles. Peters rallied from one set down to secure a third-set tiebreak victory with 0-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8) win at No. 5 singles. Finally, Bussard fought through two tight sets to secure an extra point with a 6-4, 7-6 (9) win at No. 6 singles.
 
W&J returns to the courts tomorrow (March 25) when they travel to take on the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets. Doubles will begin at 4:00 p.m., and singles will follow afterwards.