Box Score NEWARK, NJ - The NJIT men's tennis team took care of business in its season opener on Friday, defeating visiting Rider 7-0 at the Naimoli Tennis Center on campus. 

The victory kicked off a season-opening, 10-match homestand for the Highlanders, who defeated the Broncs (3-3) for the seventh-straight time. 

"It was a good day at the office for us in our first match of the season," said second-year Head Coach Marco Matteucci. "I'm happy that Rider pushed us, especially in doubles, to get our minds right early and take care of the rest of the match."

NJIT swept all three doubles matches to take a 1-0 advantage early. Pablo Perez Ramos and Josh Smith were 6-1 winners at #1 doubles, while Samuel Townes and Amine El Kholti won comfortably at #2 doubles with a 6-3 victory to clinch the point. Freshmen Pavel Petrov and Nejc Skorjanc teamed up at #3 doubles and completed the sweep with a 7-6 (7-4) win.

The Highlanders also swept singles play, with each win coming in straight sets, in the season-opening win, as El Kholti setting the tone with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 victory at #3 singles. Skorjanc was the next NJIT victor, earning a 6-2, 6-1 win for his first collegiate dual match victory at #2 singles. Perez Ramos clinched the match for the Highlanders with a 6-3, 6-4 victory at the top singles position.

NJIT kept the momentum going as Wil Jenkins earned his first collegiate win at #4 singles by way of a 6-3, 7-5 win. Petrov and Ashwin Kanetkar completed the shutout at #5 singles and #6 singles, respectively, as Petrov won 6-4, 6-0 an Kanetkar was a 6-3, 6-4 winner. 

The Highlanders return to the court on Sunday when they host Hofstra at 11am back in the Naimoli Tennis Center. 

"We are looking forward to Sunday's match against Hofstra," added Matteucci. 
 

COMPLETE RESULTS

Singles competition

1. Pablo Perez Ramos (NJIT) def. Slattery, Nathan (RID-M) 6-3, 6-4

2. Nejc Skorjanc (NJIT) def. Tangri, Dhruv (RID-M) 6-2, 6-1

3. Amine El Kholti (NJIT) def. Martinez, Roger (RID-M) 6-1, 6-1

4. Wil Jenkins (NJIT) def. Salar Carrera, Pablo (RID-M) 6-3, 7-5

5. Pavel Petrov (NJIT) def. Grimes, Jake (RID-M) 6-4, 6-0

6. Ashwin Kanetkar (NJIT) def. Ghitti, Giacomo (RID-M) 6-3, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. Pablo Perez Ramos/Josh Smith (NJIT) def. Arbittier, Jonathan/Tangri, Dhruv (RID-M) 6-1

2. Samuel Townes/Amine El Kholti (NJIT) def. Martinez, Roger/Hadjivarnava, Stavro (RID-M) 6-3

3. Pavel Petrov/Nejc Skorjanc (NJIT) def. Lachmanen, Dylan/Grimes, Jake (RID-M) 7-6 (7-4)

Match Notes

Rider 3-3

NJIT 1-0

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,2,1,4,5,6)