CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. - A battle tested IUPUI men's tennis team opened Horizon League play with a road win, tripping up Northern Kentucky by a 5-2 score inside Five Seasons Sports Club on Saturday (Mar. 19). The Jaguars took a hard fought doubles point to open the match and won four of the six singles matches for a resounding victory. 

"When we stepped on the court today, the boys had awesome energy from first point until the last point," Vasalakis said. "There were some big moments in doubles and singles and we executed when it mattered most. 

"(A) great win for the Jags today."

Doubles were nip-and-tuck with IUPUI securing the point through tiebreak wins at the top two spots. The reigning Horizon League Doubles Team of the Week of Alex Jochim and Emil Jankowski won 7-6 (7-2) and Colton Morehart and Blessing Benibo had an identical 7-6 (7-2) victory. At No. 3, Kamil Kozerski and Sean Bailey were tied at 6-6 with their opponents when the doubles point was decided. 

IUPUI (5-12, 1-0 HL) needed some clutch singles play to escape with the win as Jochim won in straight sets at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 6-3. Benibo also collected a straight sets win at No. 5 by a 6-3, 7-5 score, but the other points didn't come nearly as easily. 

Sean Bailey won the clincher at No. 2 singles, despite dropping the opening set. He rallied past NKU's Jorge Rodriguez, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to ultimately seal the win. Colton Morehart followed with an insurance point at No. 4 singles, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2), also rallying after dropping the opening set. 

The win over NKU was IUPUI's first against the Norse since a similar 5-2 road win back in 2019. The Jaguars will return home to host four straight contests, beginning with UIC on Saturday, Mar. 26 at 1:30 p.m..