Tartans Open Spring Season with Decisive Victory Against DI Saint Francis

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University men's tennis team opened the spring season with a 6-1 win against Division I Saint Francis University at Alpha Tennis on Friday, February 4. The Tartans now have an overall record of 1-0 after playing all tournaments during the fall season.

Doubles play finished with the Tartans leading 1-0 by winning at the second and third positions. Sophomores Derek Wong (La Jolla, Calif. / Francis Parker) and Nadim Motaghedi (Cerritos, Calif. / Whitney) pulled out an 8-6 victory at second doubles ahead of sophomore Arjan Bedi (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Sewickley Academy) and junior Raahil Doshi (Singapore, Singapore / Anglo - Chinese School (Independent), Singapore) who won 8-5 at third doubles.

The race to four team points started with the Tartans taking the first set in four of the six singles matches.

Saint Francis tied the match with a win by Marc Fuste at fourth singles.

As two matches went to a third set, Motaghedi won his third singles match by a 6-4, 6-1 score to put the Tartans two points away from victory.

Freshman William Wang (Austin, Texas / Lake Travis) forced a third set after falling 7-6 (7-5) in the first set with a 6-0 second set win in his sixth singles match.

Sophomore Brandon Aprill (Mountain View, Calif. / The Menlo School) picked up a three-set victory at first singles after Sebastian Pinos had to retire due to an injury. The final score was 6-4, 4-6, 1-0.

Sophomore Nicholas Wernink (Glen Cove, N.Y. / Friends Academy) secured the match win with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 showing at fifth singles.

Wang finished with a 6-4 victory in his third set to put the Tartans up 5-1 before graduate student Ray Bopanna (Boxborough, Mass. / Acton Boxborough Regional) closed out the night with a 6-1, 2-6, 7-5 win at second doubles for the 6-1 final.

The Tartans return to action on Saturday, February 5 against Division I Duquesne University at 1:00 p.m.