HOUGHTON, NY – Despite the rain moving the match to Houghton University, the Alfred University men's tennis team picked up its first win of the season with a 7-0 victory against Thiel College on Friday.

"This was a good result and exactly what we needed this time of year," Head Coach Jake Fisler said. "It was a great tune-up match for a big day tomorrow. The guys got some good reaps and were pushed at No. 1 and 2 singles, but we got the job done. Looking forward to taking this energy into tomorrow's matchup against Penn State Behrend."

André López Jiménez (Mexico City, Mexico/PrepaTec Esmeralda) and Bill Tran (Hanoi, Vietnam/Grace Christian) swept No. 2 doubles with a 6-0 victory. Breece Erickson (Goshen, IN/Bethany Christian) and Anian Zwerver (Koog Aan De Zaan, The Netherlands/Blaise Pascal College) registered a 6-2 win at No. 1. A forfeit at No. 3 gave the Saxons (1-1, 0-0 Empire 8) the doubles point to start the match.

Josh Erickson (Falconer, NY/Falconer) was victorious in his first career singles win as he defeated his opponent at No. 4 by scores of 6-0, 6-0. Matthew Bittel (Wellsville, NY/Wellsville) followed with 6-0, 6-1 to take No. 3. Breece Erickson and Zwerver found themselves in a battle at No. 1 and 2 but pulled it out in the end. Breece Erickson won 6-4, 6-3, while Zwerver finished with scores of 6-4, 6-1. AU won at No. 5 and 6 after forfeits by the Tomcats (0-3, 0-0 PAC).

The Saxons end the fall slate at Penn State Behrend on Saturday at 1:00 PM.