MEMPHIS - The Rhodes College men's tennis team swept singles competition en route to an 8-1 win over the Bethel University Wildcats in their opening match of the 2016 season. 

The Lynx men were tested early as they got a stiff challenge from the Wildcats in doubles. The duo of freshman Ali Jamal and junior Albert Vacheron earned the first point of the match as they defeated Drew Butler and John Griffith, 8-5, at No. 3 doubles. However, Bethel evened the match up at No. 1 doubles with an 8-5 victory. 

It all came down to No. 2 doubles where the team of freshmen Sairam Gudiseva and Sean Hogan were able to push through with a late break and knock off Otto Abad and Barrett Phelps to hold a 2-1 advantage.

That momentum carried over to singles where the Lynx took control of the match. Jamal cruised at No. 6 singles over Butler, 6-0, 6-0, while Gudiseva earned a 6-1, 6-0 win over Griffith at No. 5 singles. With the Lynx leading 4-1, senior Greyson Brilliant would clinch the match at No. 3 singles, defeating Byron Melbourne, 6-0, 6-0.

From there, Vacheron won No. 1 singles, knocking off Nick Slank, 6-2, 6-1 while Hogan defeated Phelps at No. 4 singles, 6-2, 6-3. Rhodes would go on and finish the match at 8-1 as Barrett closed things out with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Abad at No. 2 singles.

Rhodes begins the season 1-0 and will return home in two weeks on February 21st as they welcome in the Rust College Bearcats. First serve is currently set for 2 PM.

Bethel at Rhodes
Doubles
No. 1 Nick Slank and Byron Melbourne (BU) def. Henry Barrett and Greyson Brilliant (RC) 8-5 (2)
No. 2 Sairam Gudiseva and Sean Hogan (RC) def. Otto Abad and Barrett Phelps (BU), 8-6 (3)
No. 3 Ali Jamal and Albert Vacheron (RC) def. John Griffith and Drew Butler (BU), 8-5 (1)

Singles
No. 1 Albert Vacheron (RC) def. Nick Slank (BU), 6-2, 6-1 (4)
No. 2 Henry Barrett (RC) def. Otto Abad (BU), 6-3, 6-3 (6)
No. 3 Greyson Brilliant (RC) def. Byron Melbourne (BU), 6-0, 6-0 (3)
No. 4 Sean Hogan (RC) def. Barrett Phelps (BU), 6-2, 6-3 (5)
No. 5 Sairam Gudiseva (RC) def. John Griffith (BU), 6-1, 6-0 (2)
No. 6 Ali Jamal (RC) def. Drew Butler (BU), 6-0, 6-0 (1)