The Midwestern State men’s tennis team began its season last weekend with a 9-0 victory over Temple Junior College then suffered a 7-2 loss to the Hilltoppers of St. Edwards.

Mario Urban combined forces with Colby Meeks to defeat Temple Junior College, who featured Tom Greer-Smith and Robin Hochguertel. The Mustangs dual served the Leopards with an 8-2 score line. Jarrod Liston and Tomas Grejtak appeared in the No. 2 doubles to beat Justin Delgado and Dimitar Komov 8-1.

Rory de Boer and Kacper Boborykin followed up to thrashed Andrew Fuelleman and Justin Petty 8-1 in No. 3 doubles. Boer went ahead to face Hochguertel in three sets of No. 1 singles that ended in scores of 6-2,6-7 and 10-5.

Boer expressed his view of the season opener against Temple Junior College.

“We were expected to win the game even though we didn’t play our best,” he said, “But it is always good to win.”

According to the sophomore, it felt great to finally play the first game of the season after working hard since the fall semester.

A shutout was a good start for the Mustangs who had no idea what St. Edwards had waiting for them.

“It was pretty disappointing but we took positives out of it,” said Boer.

St. Edwards stole the doubles points, before going ahead to snatch four out of six singles matches at the expense of the Mustangs.

Midwestern State had to cope with three-set matches in three singles, which would have granted victory to the Mustangs score line if they had won.

Urban lost at No. 1 to Edward Boone 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Meeks fell to Eduardo Bencke 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the No. 2 singles while Grejtak lost the No. 6 to Ryan Wiggins 4-6, 6-4, 10-6.

“We played a very good team,” said Boer “Everyone is excited to improve from the game.”

Boer also lost at No. 3 to Pedro Bronstrup 6-4, 6-3 but found a silver lining in the cloud.

“It was a promising start and we know where we have to be halfway through the season,” he added.

The Hilltoppers won the other two doubles points 8-4, with the No. 1 combinations of Urban and Meeks falling to Boone and Bencke, and the No. 3 team of de Boer and Boborykin lossing to Bueno and Wiggins.

Midwestern State will travel to San Antonio this Friday to play Laredo Community College before facing Incarnate Word on Saturday.