MIT Takes Home NEWMAC Opener From Wheaton

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Getting outside on its home courts for the first time this spring, the MIT men's tennis team made the most of the good weather this afternoon, taking a 9-0 decision over New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe Wheaton College. The Engineers did not give up a set to the visiting Lyons, as they stayed undefeated in conference play this season.
MIT (7-3, 2-0 NEWMAC) swept the doubles matches to start the afternoon, including the No. 1 matchup where senior Kevin Wang (Havertown, Pa.) and freshman Tyler Barr (Auburn Township, Ohio) took an 8-1 decision. The closest match came at No. 2 where the Engineers' team of freshman Alex Cauneac (Severna Park, Md.) and sophomore Brian Lilley (Edmund, Okla.) defeated senior Will White (Nantucket, Mass.) and junior Alden Zeff (Stratham, N.H.), 8-3.

Wheaton (4-5, 1-2 NEWMAC) challenged MIT in the top two flights in singles play, but it was the Engineers that walked away with wins in each. At No. 1 Wang held off senior David Gassen (Dusseldorf, Germany), 6-3, 6-4 while in the No. 2 match it was Cauneac getting past White by a final of 6-3, 6-3. In the No. 3 contest Barr won his first set against freshman Jeremiah Ryser (Cross River, N.Y.), 6-0, and then battled his opponent for a 6-3 win in the second set.

In the final three flights MIT dominated the action, with the Engineers giving up just a total four games in the three matches, including a 6-0, 6-0 victory by junior Kenny Gea (Irvine, Calif.) at No. 6.

MIT will move out of conference play in its next match as it travels to Amherst College on Friday for a 3:00 p.m. match. Wheaton will also play an out of conference foe next, playing at Stonehill College this afternoon at 3:30 p.m.