Members of West Liberty University’s men’s tennis team competed at the 2021 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Atlantic Region championships from Sept. 17-19. This event was hosted by Bloomsburg University at the Burt Reese Tennis Center.

Senior Anton Schulz did not qualify for the quarterfinals of the massive A Flight Championship Bracket draw. Sophomore Derek Roehner advanced to the Round of 16 in the B Flight singles. Sophomore Zarion Jones rebounded from a tiebreaker loss in the Round of 32 to win three straight Consolation Bracket matches.

“I felt like I got off to a bad start in the tournament which caused me to lose my first match. I was then able to rebound and win the next three. I need to play more aggressively and take advantage of opportunities to put balls away to have success in my upcoming matches. I cannot afford to pass those opportunities if I want to compete with the best this season,” Jones said.

Alfonso Zerpa also won a Consolation Bracket in the Round of 32.

Nevio Dux and Jones teamed up for a run to the quarterfinals of the B Flight Doubles Championship Bracket, with a 6-2 victory in the Round of 16 before being eliminated by a 6-3 tally in the quarterfinals.

Daisuke Aota and Isfan Makhumodov made it to the Round of 16 in the A Flight Doubles Championship Bracket but were eliminated in a tiebreaker.

The WLU men’s tennis team’s next match was. at Cedarville University in Ohio.

The team won by the score of 5-2. Dux and Aota claimed singles victories to start off the match. In doubles, Moritz Erpel and Makhumodov got the first Hilltoppers victory. The next match saw Schultz and Dux claim victory for their fourth team point. To finish the match off, Schultz claimed victory for the Hilltoppers with a 6-4 singles victory sending the team home happy.

The men’s tennis team will next play at Washington and Jefferson College on Friday, Oct. 15. The match begins at 4 p.m. For more information about the men’s tennis team, visit Hilltopper Sports.