CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - The NJIT men's tennis team wrapped up its historic 2024 season on Friday, falling 4-0 to the two-time defending national champions #3 Virginia. 

The Highlanders kept it close in doubles play, but the Cavaliers proved why they are among the nation's best as they won 6-4 at #1 and 6-3 at #2 to go ahead 1-0 in the match and earn the early momentum.

#1 singles stalwart Pablo Perez Ramos won his first set, but UVA took three singles matches in straight sets to clinch the match and move on to Saturday's second round against VCU, which defeated Princeton 4-2 on Friday.

Friday's match wraps up the best season in NJIT men's tennis history as the Highlanders won a program record 19 matches and qualified for their first NCAA Tournament. NJIT, playing in just its third year in the Southland Conference, won the league title for the first time, avenging a loss earlier this season to host and top-seeded Incarnate Word.

The Highlanders were led all season by captain and redshirt sophomore Perez Ramos, who went 18-2 at #1 singles for the best individual season in program history. To top it off, Perez Ramos and teammate Wil Jenkins were 16-3 this season at the #1 doubles spot. Perez Ramos was named MVP of the Southland Conference Tournament in April.

Perez Ramos defeated UVA's Chris Rodesch via tiebreaker in the first set on Friday.

NJIT also received stellar performances from several others including Jenkins, Oscar Callo von Platen, Pavel Petrov, and Nejc Skorjanc.

All four joined Perez Ramos with double-digit victories this season, earning 16, 16, 13, and 10, respectively. 

The Highlanders will look to make it back-to-back Southland titles in 2025 as they return the entire starting lineup from this season's Southland Championship.

#2 Virginia 4, NJIT 0
Singles competition

1. #3 Chris Rodesch (VA) vs. Pablo Perez Ramos (NJIT) 6-7 (6-8), 3-1, unfinished
2. #33 Inaki Montes (VA) def. Wil Jenkins (NJIT) 6-2, 6-1
3. #52 Dylan Dietrich (VA) def. Nejc Skorjanc (NJIT) 6-4, 6-3
4. #61 J vd Schulenburg (VA) vs. Pavel Petrov (NJIT) 6-4, 4-3, unfinished
5. Alexander Kiefer (VA) def. Oscar Callo von Platen (NJIT) 6-3, 6-0
6. Mans Dahlberg (VA) vs. German Lopez Andujar (NJIT) 6-7 (3-7), 2-1, unfinished

Doubles competition

1. #5 James Hopper/Inaki Montes (VA) def. Pablo Perez Ramos/Wil Jenkins (NJIT) 6-4
2. Chris Rodesch/J vd Schulenburg (VA) def. Oscar Callo von Platen/Nejc Skorjanc (NJIT) 6-3
3. Dylan Dietrich/Alexander Kiefer (VA) vs. Pavel Petrov/German Lopez Andujar (NJIT) 4-4, unfinished

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (5,3,2)
T-2:01 A-284