WEST ORANGE, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's tennis team continued its impressive inaugural season since the program returned from a 22-year hiatus, picking up an 8-1 victory at home at the West Orange Tennis Club this afternoon, Friday, April 16, over Rowan College-Gloucester County.

The Gothic Knights (4-0) rolled through the Roadrunners in doubles play, taking the early 3-0 lead. Freshman Jordia Julia and Toni Cabot (Palma, Spain/IES Albuhaira) teamed up at first doubles and earned the 8-1 victory over Ryan Weiss and Christian Coombs. At second doubles, rookies Alejandro Ley (Las Palmas, Spain/I.E.S. Politécnico) and Gerard Loras (Tortosa, Spain/Col·legi Diocesà Sagrada Família) — regularly the third pair — improved to 3-1 together on the year with an 8-1 victory over Colin Christoff and Trevor Lodge of Rowan College. Junior Alex Platanov and freshman Christopher Perez (Bronx, N.Y./Herbert H. Lehman) made their season debuts today and earned the 8-3 victory at third doubles, topping Tatum Merlino and James Keenan.

Leading 3-0 heading into singles, Cabot (third) and Loras (fourth) made quick work of their foes, each winning in straight sets (6-1, 6-0) over Keenan and Christoff, respectively. Ley picked up the straight set (6-0, 6-1) win at second singles over lodge as well. In his singles debut, Platanov fought for a two-set (6-3, 6-3) win against Coombs at fifth singles, while Perez — also in his singles debut for NJCU — earned a quick 6-1, 6-0, win over Merlino at sixth singles. Julia was the final match to finish on the afternoon, as the freshman fell in three tough sets at first singles to Weiss (4-6, 6-2, 6-2).

FULL RESULTS
Doubles
1: Julia/Cabot (N) def. Weiss/ Coombs (R), 8-1
2: Ley/Gerard (N) def. Christoff/Lodge, 8-1
3: Platanov/Perez (N) def. Merlino/Keenan (R), 8-3
Singles
1: Weiss (R) def. Julia (N), 4-6, 2-6, 2-6
2: Ley (N) def. Lodge (R), 6-0, 6-1
3: Cabot (N) def. Keenan (R), 6-1, 6-0
4: Loras (N) d. Christoff (R), 6-1, 6-0
5: Platanov (N) d. Coombs (R), 6-3, 6-3
6: Perez (N) d. Merlino (R), 6-1, 6-0

What's Next
After a weekend off, the Gothic Knights head into a nice road trip. They first meet up Mary Baldwin University of the Big South Conference on Friday, April 30, at 5:00 p.m. in Staunton, Va. Then, on Saturday, May 1, NJCU takes on Southern Virginia University of the Coast to Coast Athletic Conference (formerly the Capital Athletic Conference) in Buena Vista, Va., at 1:00 p.m.