Men's Tennis Opens Perfect in 2013 | Schools

CLINTON, Iowa--Opening the 2013 spring season, the Ashford University men's tennis team hosted a pair of teams at the Ashford Indoor Community Tennis Center on Saturday, Feb. 9.  The Saints performed well in their first outings of the season, downing the Knights of Wartburg College, 6-3, before completing a 9-0 clean sweep of Aurora University.

Junior Alvaro Merino and Split, Croatia freshman Pavao Krzelj each posted a perfect 4-0 record on the day while Luis Castillo and freshman Arno Epping went 2-1 through the pair of duals. 

Merino earned a 6-1, 4-6 (10-4) singles victory over Wartburg's Dayton Stevens before taking a 6-2, 6-2 decision over Aurora's Brian Koski.  The Wartburg win came at #4 singles while Merino's Aurora victory was at #3 singles.  In doubles action, Merino paired up for victories with Jake Dunn against Wartburg and Diego Aviles against Aurora.

Freshman Krzelj defeated Wartburg's Eric Hilpert at #3 singles before earning a perfect 6-0, 6-0 win against Brett Wilder of Aurora at #2 singles.  Krzelj also paired up with Castillo in #2 doubles against Wartburg, with the duo completing an 8-4 victory.  Then against Aurora, Krzelj and Castillo worked an 8-6 victory at #1 doubles.

Epping won a pair of 6-1, 6-2 singles decisions at #1 singles on the day while Castillo won a 6-3, 6-2 match at #5 singles against Wartburg's Blayne Willadsen.

In addition, Aviles and Jake Dunn were 3-0 in action with Aviles winning a pair of singles victories and Dunn aiding AU's doubles tandems with two wins at #3 doubles.

In other action, freshman Lucas Benites picked up two wins against Aurora, at #3 doubles and #6 singles.

Up next, AU returns to action on Friday, Feb. 15 when the #16-ranked Yellowjackets of Graceland University make the trip to Clinton.  First service is slated for 4:30 p.m.