WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Catholic University men's tennis team earned two victories to start off the 2023 fall season with convincing wins over Lebanon Valley and Hood on Saturday.

Match 1 – Catholic 6, Lebanon Valley 3

The Cardinals started off the day strong in doubles competition, winning two out of their three matchups. Henry Ogden and Matt Rudolf took an early lead at No. 2 doubles and remained steady to win 8-5. Likewise, Ben Perks and Leyton Ramos-Platt worked well together to win 8-5 at No. 3 doubles. James Earwood and Diego Romo battled at No. 1 doubles but an early break of serve led to a tight 8-6 loss. 

Romo battled against a tough opponent at No. 1 singles and came out on top. He earned crucial points at the end of sets, winning 6-3, 6-4. At No. 2 singles, Earwood won conveniently in the first set, 6-1. He overcame a strong fight from his opponent in the second set to win in a tiebreak, 7-5. Rudolf clinched the match with his second win of the day, winning the first set in a tiebreak, 7-6 and the second set 6-2. 

Ogden and Perks both had matches that went the distance, but they both eventually fell 10-6 in the tiebreak. In his collegiate debut, Drew Andrianopoulos also went long, winning his match 11-9 in the third set after being down 4-9. 

Match 2 – Catholic 9, Hood 0

The Cardinals' second match of the day came easily with three doubles wins and six singles wins.   

Earwood and Romo paired up again to win 8-1. Nathaniel Barish started off his season partnering with Ogden to secure a 8-2 victory. Lucas Boyle and Diego Robles won by default as the Blazers only played four men. 

On the singles side, Romo, Rudolf, Ramos-Platt, and Jose Centenera all won in two sets. Boyle and Robles earned victories by default. Rudolf did not lose a game, winning both 6-0. Centenera earned his first collegiate victory winning 6-1, 6-2.

Catholic's previously scheduled match against Stevenson tomorrow was postponed, stay tuned for a makeup date in the coming days.