WILLIAMSPORT, PA -- The Alfred University men's tennis team earned its first win of the 2024-25 campaign over Lycoming College on Friday night taking it 4-3.

"We are now able to breathe a sign of relief. This was a tense match from start to finish," Head Coach Jake Fisler said. "We underestimated them in the beginning and they made us pay for that. It all came down to the last match."

That last match came in a thrilling duel involving freshman George K. Fearon (Union Springs, NY/Union Springs) in his singles match. His match was the final one of the evening, where he battled down a set. The second set he took to seven points and then took the third and final set to seal the first victory of the season 4-3.

In the end, he won his singles match 2-6, 7-5, 6-4. He also battled in his doubles match with Matthew Bittel (Wellsville, NY/Wellsville) but was unfortunate to come out on the losing end. But, Bittel won his own singles match 6-1, 6-1.

"He (Fearon) clinched the match to get the first win of his career," Fisler said. "I was also extremely proud of Bill Tran (Hanoi, Vietnam/Grace Christian) for battling through cramps to force a deciding third set. This could not have come at a better time as we start conference play."

Other wins came from Ricardo Alvarez Janik (La Orotava, Spain/Colegio Casa Azul) who swept his singles match 6-0, 6-0 and also won his doubles match with Breece Erickson (Goshen, IN/Bethany Christian) 6-2. Erickson also took care of business in his own singles match 6-1, 7-5.

The season is now in full swing as the Saxons prepare for the start of Empire 8 conference play Saturday at Nazareth University at 1:00 p.m.