The Hamline University men's tennis team opened with strong first sets in each singles match, but ultimately dropped the first match of the season to UW-La Crosse, 7-2, at Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis on Saturday night.

Sam Teitelbaum (Jr., Afton, Minn.) and Andrew Lutz (Jr., Pine City, Minn.) opened the match with a close battle in doubles as they took Eric Linskens and Vic Mirasola to a tie-breaker. UW-La Crosse won the match 9-8 (7-5), to complete a sweep of the doubles matches.

In singles, all but one first set score was 6-4 or closer.

Hamline's two match wins came at third and sixth singles. Robert Becker (Jr., Minnetonka, Minn.) won his first contest of the year at third singles 7-6 (7-3), 6-2. Lutz won in a third-set super-break at sixth, 7-5, 3-6, 10-8.

Hamline opens the season at 0-1 overall while the Eagles are 1-2 and hold the #16 ranking in the region. The Pipers next play on Saturday, February 12, in a triangular at Gustavus Adolphus. Hamline will take on the Gusties in their first MIAC match of the year at 8:30 p.m. They will then play MSU-Mankato at 1:30 p.m.