NEWARK, NJ - The NJIT men's tennis team continued its impressive start to the 2020-21 season with a 5-2 victory over visiting La Salle at the Naimoli Tennis Center on Sunday.

The Highlanders improved to 2-0, while La Salle's record now stands at 1-1.

"I'm happy to pull out another close one," said Head Coach Ira Miller.

The Highlanders won two of three doubles matches to earn the first point of the afternoon, then won four of six in singles play to earn the 5-2 win two weeks after their 4-3 season-opening win vs. Drexel.

Josh Smith and Samuel Townes won at first doubles for NJIT, while Ashwin Kantekar and Ammaar Fekry earned the victory at third doubles to clinch the doubles point.

In singles play, Abdullah Fouad, Amine El Kholti, Townes, and Kanetkar each picked up victories on Sunday.

"Amine battled back nicely to make things easier," added Miller. "Abdullah, Sam and Ashwin continued their stellar play to start the season, as well."

This marks the first time the Highlanders have won their first two matches of the season since they won four in a row to start the 2017-18 campaign.

NJIT will look to make it three in a row to start the season on Sunday, March 14, when it travels to take on Bucknell in its first road match of the season. First serve is slated for 1:30pm in Lewisburg, PA.
 

FULL RESULTS:

Singles competition

1. Abdullah Fouad (NJIT) def. Rogelo Gonzalez (LAS) 6-4, 6-4

2. Connor Merrill (LAS) def. Josh Smith (NJIT) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1

3. Amine El Kholti (NJIT) def. Nassim Fenjiro (LAS) 4-6, 7-6, 6-3

4. Samuel Townes (NJIT) def. Colin Lucius (LAS) 7-6, 6-3

5. Ashwin Kanetkar (NJIT) def. Dylan Tull (LAS) 7-6, 6-1

6. Brandon Caban (LAS) def. Juan Bejarano (NJIT) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. Josh Smith/Samuel Townes (NJIT) def. Rogelo Gonzalez/Connor Merrill (LAS) 7-6 (6-1)

2. Colin Lucius/Nassim Fenjiro (LAS) def. Abdullah Fouad/Amine El Kholti (NJIT) 7-5

3. Ashwin Kanetkar/Ammar Fekry (NJIT) def. Dylan Tull/Brandon Caban (LAS) 6-4