HILTON HEAD, SC – The Alfred University men's tennis team opened the 2026 season with a 4-3 victory over Penn State Harrisburg during its first spring break match on Tuesday.

"I am super proud of the fight the guys showed on the court today," Head Coach Jake Fisler said. "They came out to battle right from the start. After dropping the doubles point, they were undeterred and continued with the plan and executed it to perfection. A great way to start the trip and we look forward to building on this success."

Matthew Bittel (Wellsville, NY/Wellsville) and Josh Erickson (Falconer, NY/Falconer) won at No. 3 doubles, 6-2, but the Saxons (2-2, 0-0 Empire 8) lost the doubles point to the Nittany Lions (1-3, 0-0 United East). 

AU came back with three-straight victories in singles. Breece Erickson (Goshen, IN/Bethany Christian) defeated his opponent 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3. Josh [Erickson] followed with a win at No. 6, 6-3, 6-3. Ricardo Alvarez Janik (La Orotava, Spain/Colegio Casa Azul) took No. 1 after he registered scores of 6-4, 6-3. Bittel played at No. 5 where he won the first set, 6-4, before falling in the second, 6-3. The senior came back in the third, 10-6, to come out on top and seal the narrow victory for AU. 

The Saxons next play Curry College on Wednesday at 12:00 PM.