MARIETTA, Ohio – The Marietta College men's tennis team opened the 2012 season with a decisive 8-1 victory over Waynesburg University Saturday (Feb. 25) at the Marietta Tennis Center. Playing with four program newcomers in the lineup, the Pioneers looked strong and easily defeated the Yellow Jackets. [Box Score]

"There were some nerves today, but that is expected the first match out," Marietta Head Coach Steve Iman said. "Waynesburg came out hot at one and two doubles. We managed to get it back and sweep the doubles. The momentum carried us into singles. We took care of business today."

The match started out with an 8-3 win by Taimur Ahmed (Islamabad, Pakistan/Froebels International) and Tyler Pullekines (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) at No. 3 doubles. The pair defeated Waynesburg's Alex Tenenbaum and Joe Kromer. Teddy Daub (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg) and Eric Sturgis (Ann Arbor, Mich./Ann Arbor Huron) defeated Peter Mally and Isaiah Cochran by the score of 8-6 at No. 1 doubles. Playing in their first career match, freshmen Karl Grant (Elmhurst, Ill./York) and Andy Knauff (Valencia, Pa./Mars Area) downed Jon Anderson and Philip Littlejohn at No. 2 by the same 8-6 score.

After taking the doubles 3-0, the Pioneers started the singles off with a bang as Sturgis quickly defeated Mally at No. 2 singles 6-0, 6-0. Daub dispatched of freshman Cochran 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 to clinch the fifth and deciding point for the Pioneers.

Also winning for Marietta was Knauff at No. 3, Grant at No. 5 and Pullekines at No. 6 singles. Knauff defeated Littlejohn 6-4 and 6-2. Grant was victorious over Tenenbaum 6-0, 6-1 and Pullekines posted a 6-1, 6-2 win over Kromer.

The lone bright spot for the Yellow Jackets came at No. 4 where Anderson won a hard fought match over Ahmed 6-7 (4), 7-5, 1-0 (6). Ahmed made a great comeback for the Pioneers being down a set, and 3-2 to force a third set tiebreaker.

The Pioneers return to action next Sunday (March 4) when they travel to West Virginia State University for a 6 p.m. match.