HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - The Lake Superior State University men's tennis program (4-2) opened up the 2023 PTR Spring Tennis Fest with a victory over the Chowan Hawks (0-6) by a final score of 4-2 on Monday.

The Lakers got off to a fast start in doubles play with the duo of Xavier Vicent Navarro (Cocentaina, Spain) and Lluc Limongi Ollers (Mallorca, Spain) powered their way to a dominant 6-1 victory at the No. 3 doubles spot. However, despite strong efforts from the respective pairings of Aaron Osmond (Cheltenham, U.K.) and Maxence Hamon (Montreal, Quebec) at No. 1 as well as Jordi Fraile Raton (Sant Cugat del Valles) and Raul Velasco Garcia (Barcelona, Spain), the Hawks were able to take the remaining two doubles matches by respective scores of 6-4 and 7-5 for the early 1-0 advantage. 

Limongi was able to tie up the overall score with a 6-4, 6-2 to remain undefeated in singles play against division II opponents. Hamon would then give the Lakers the lead by claiming the No. 3 singles match after his opponent retired due to injury with both teams tied at a set a piece at the time. The Hawks were able to tie up the score at 2-2 with a hard-fought victory at the No. 1 singles spot by a score of 6-4, 7-5 despite a valiant effort from Osmond who came all the way back from down 4-1 in the second set to tie the set at 5-5 whilst simultaneously battling an illness. Vicent wasted no time retaking the lead for the Lakers with a dominant 6-2, 6-0 win at the No. 5 singles spot, and Velasco would then show his heroics with a 6-2, 6-3 victory in the No. 6 singles match, clinching the team victory with an ace to end the match. 

With the match decided, Fraile's No. 4 singles match would remain unfinished in the interest of time whilst leading by a set 6-3, 5-6 at the time.

The Lakers return to action on Tuesday, March 7 when they take on Augusta with the first serve scheduled for 12 p.m.