Matt Prendergast	Keller McGurrin	Alexander Ochalski

SCRANTON, Pa. - The University of Scranton men's tennis team opened Landmark Conference play for the 2017 season in emphatic fashion on Sunday at Royal Courts, as the Royals knocked off visiting Elizabethtown, 8-1.

With the victory, Scranton moved to 3-7 overall and 1-0 in the Landmark Conference, while Elizabethtown fell to 2-6 and 0-2 in the Landmark with the defeat.

In the win, Scranton got off to a fast start in doubles, sweeping three matches to take a 3-0 lead into singles.

Taking the first win of the day was the number one doubles team of sophomore Alexander Ochalski (Hopewell, N.J./Hopewell Valley Central) and junior Keller McGurrin (Clarks Summit, Pa./Scranton Prep), who were victorious 8-2.

At number two, senior's Matt Prendergast (Flanders, N.J./Mt. Olive) and Michael Pottieger (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing Area) rolled to an 8-0 win, while sophomore Christian Aksu (Exton, Pa./West Chester East) and junior Emmett Ryan (Manchester, Mass./Canterbury School) finished off doubles with an 8-4 win at number three.

In singles, Scranton won five of the six matches contested, clinching the match at number three singles when Prendergast rolled to a 6-2, 6-0 win.

At number one singles, McGurrin was a 6-4, 6-0 victor, while at number two, Ochalski won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0.

Scranton finished off the match with winners at number five and six, as sophomore's Brian Harkins (New Fairfield, Conn./New Fairfield) and Charles Swope (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) were straight set victors.

The University of Scranton men's tennis team returns to action on Saturday, traveling to Goucher for another Landmark Conference match-up. First serve is set for 1 p.m.

University of Scranton 8, Elizabethtown 1
Apr 02, 2017 at Scranton, Pa. (Royal Courts)

Singles competition
1. Keller McGurrin (SCRMT17) def. Alex Machalick (ETOWNM) 6-4, 6-0
2. Alexander Ochalski (SCRMT17) def. Connor Martin (ETOWNM) 6-2, 6-0
3. Matt Prendergast (SCRMT17) def. Matthew Hornbaker (ETOWNM) 6-2, 6-0
4. Tyler Spinello (ETOWNM) def. Brandon Ostrowski (SCRMT17) 6-2, 6-4
5. Brian Harkins (SCRMT17) def. Nathan Dowling (ETOWNM) 7-5, 6-2
6. Charles Swope (SCRMT17) def. Nick Strobel (ETOWNM) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Alexander Ochalski/Keller McGurrin (SCRMT17) def. Connor Martin/Alex Machalick (ETOWNM) 8-2
2. Matt Prendergast/Michael Pottieger (SCRMT17) def. Nathan Dowling/Matthew Hornbaker (ETOWNM) 8-0
3. Christian Aksu/Emmett Ryan (SCRMT17) def. Nick Strobel/Tyler Spinello (ETOWNM) 8-4

Match Notes
Elizabethtown 2-5, 0-1 Landmark
University of Scranton 3-7, 1-0 Landmark
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,3,2,6,5,4)

--ROYALS--