Cresson, Pa. -- The Mount Aloysius men's tennis program opened their 2024 fall season with a 1-6 loss to Washington & Jefferson College this Sunday, September 8th. 

The windy fall day would prove tricky for both teams early in doubles, as each program set out to start the match up with statement wins throughout the lineup. Despite strong doubles play from the two and three spots, the Mounties found no answer for the Presidents' depth, giving up the doubles point with two losses. However, one doubles would come out firing, with freshmen tandem Stefano Gasasira (Silver Spring, Md., John F. Kennedy) and Tristen Ruffley (Bedford, Pa., Bedford) controlling the net and finding success building off first serves. Despite facing powerful service games from their opponents, Gasasira and Ruffley would maintain a break separation, putting away key volleys en route to a 6-4 win at the top flight. 

Gasasira would look to maintain the momentum heading into singles, taking the court for the Mounties in the top position. The match would be back-and-forth from the outset, with W&J's serve-volley, chip-and-charge style clashing against Gasasira's smooth baseline game. With both players unable to consolidate breaks, the first set would go to a tiebreak, with Gasasira grabbing an early 5-2 lead. However, the visitor would battle back, capturing four of the next five points to level the score at 6-all. Composing himself at the change of ends, Gasasira would convert the next two points, taking the set and the match momentum into the second. 

W&J would start the second with a newfound intensity, increasing shot speed and approach attempts to pressure the Mountie one into early errors. Struggling to find consistency against the offensive uptick, Gasasira would earn a handful of looks at leveling the score late, but ultimately drop the second set 3-6. Undeterred, the Mountie would reestablish dominance from the baseline, punishing short forehands from his opponent to carve out a 4-1 lead. Again his opponent would respond with increased net pressure, putting the match back on serve at the 6-5 change of ends. Digging deep, Gasasira would find key returns late, putting a final backhand return deep into the corner to capture his debut singles performance 7-5 in the third. Gasasira's single win would be the sole team point for the Mounties on the day. 

Senior captain Matt Jacobs (Somerset, PA, Somerset) would also put in a strong singles performance for the Mounties, battling at three singles against W&J's mix of powerful, flat groundstrokes and fluid touch at the net. Dropping the first in a closely contested 3-6 set, Jacobs would fall behind in the second before trading exquisite shot making with his opponent, staving off baseline winners and drop volleys alike to earn the 5-4 lead in the second. Although the momentum seemed comfortably on the Mounties' side, W&J would come up with aggressive service returns late, breaking Jacobs down the stretch to take the match 7-5 in the second.

Mount Aloysius men's tennis returns to action next Sunday, September 15th, at Westminster College. The Titans enter the contest 0-1, coming off a clean sweep by Baldwin Wallace.