Box Score NEWARK, NJ - The NJIT men's tennis team improved 3-0 to start the season with another shutout victory as the Highlanders defeated visiting LIU 7-0 on Friday at the Naimoli Tennis Center. 

NJIT swept all three doubles matches to go ahead 1-0 and then took all six singles matches in straight sets for it's third-straight 7-0 victory to open the 2023 campaign. Last weekend, the Highlanders defeated both Rider and Hofstra 7-0.

"We really improved our doubles play today," said Head Coach Marco Matteuci. "Every match we play we are getting challenged and the guys are just being mentally strong."

The Highlanders used the same lineup from Sunday's victory over Rider, getting wins in doubles at #1 from Pablo Perez Ramos & Josh Smith (6-3), at #2 from Amine El Kholti & Samuel Townes (7-6), and at #3 from the freshmen tandem of Pavel Petrov & Nejc Skorjanc (6-4).

In singles play, Perez Ramos, the reigning Southland Conference Player of the Week, was once again at the top of the lineup and earned a 6-4, 6-3 win to improve to 3-0 in singles play this season. Skorkanc was victorious 6-3, 7-6 at #2, while El Kholti won 6-1, 6-2 at #3 and Smith forced his opponent to retire after going ahead 6-2, 4-0. 

The victory was capped off with wins by a pair of freshmen as Wil Jenkins won 6-2, 6-1 at #5 and Petrov was victorious 7-5, 6-3 at the #6 position. 

NJIT is now 2-0 all-time against the Sharks as it also defeated LIU by a score of 4-3 last season in Newark.

"It was another good day at the office," concluded Matteucci.

The Highlanders will look to keep their season-opening winning streak alive on Sunday when it hosts Marist. First serve is slated for 12pm back at the Naimoli Tennis Center in Newark. 

COMPLETE RESULTS

Singles competition

1. Pablo Perez Ramos (NJIT) def. Hilble, Philip (LIU) 6-4, 6-3

2. Nejc Skorjanc (NJIT) def. Fernandez Romera, S. (LIU) 6-3, 7-6

3. Amine El Kholti (NJIT) def. D'Anna, Ales (LIU) 6-1, 6-2

4. Josh Smith (NJIT) def. Voiseux, Arthur (LIU) 6-2, 4-0, retired

5. Wil Jenkins (NJIT) def. Medeiros, Gui (LIU) 6-2, 6-1

6. Pavel Petrov (NJIT) def. Ishchanka, Danila (LIU) 7-5, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. Pablo Perez Ramos/Josh Smith (NJIT) def. Voiseux, Arthur/Hilble, Philip (LIU) 6-3

2. Amine El Kholti/Samuel Townes (NJIT) def. Fernandez Romera, S./Nergizoglu, Tuna (LIU) 7-6

3. Nejc Skorjanc/Pavel Petrov (NJIT) def. Medeiros, Gui/D'Anna, Ales (LIU) 6-4

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