By David Balick

Men’s tennis opened their 2015 season on Saturday with a 4-3 loss to Saint Peter’s College in the Yanitelli Bubble. The match was the first one played under new head coach Mike Sowter.

The matched started with Seniors J.J. Tauil and Max Peara winning a close doubles match, 8-7. Freshman Pol Giraldez and Senior Mischa Koran followed suit in doubles with an 8-3 victory, giving the Rams the doubles point and a sweep.

However, Fordham did not fair quite as well during the singles matches. Koran and Peara each won their singles matches in straight sets (6-1, 6-1 for Koran) and (6-2, 7-6 for Peara), but the rest of the Rams were unable to garner much more success on the day.

Tauil lost his match 6-4, 6-3 and Giraldez was unable to make his mark, falling 6-0, 6-3.

The match ended with freshman Joseph Kavaloski putting up a strong fight, but falling in three sets 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.

While the men are playing under a new coach, they will look towards senior leadership from captain J.J. Tauil. The team consists of many freshman, and this coming season will be important to find out where the team stands moving forward.

Tauil added, “We’ll look to build on the discipline, we have to all better ourselves in every category possible, both physically and mentally.”

The Rams will get their chance to do so and to avenge their opening loss in their next match on Jan. 31, when they face Duquesne University.