Oberlin, Ohio - After dropping three matches over spring break, the Oberlin College men's tennis team is now heading into conference play with newfound momentum after a convincing 5–2 victory over Division II Tiffin University.
 
As has been the case throughout the season, the doubles matches went down to the wire. Third-year Shawn Lisann and first-year Brady Huggett took down the Dragons' No. 1 duo, Ayush Sharma and Nico Ritz, 7–6 (4) after saving match points on consecutive deuce points at 5–3 and 5–4. Second-year Zain Makada and first-year Enrique Margain were on the opposite end of a similar situation in their No. 2 match against Marlon Huber and Owen McEldowney, as the duo couldn't take advantage of three match points in the tiebreak of a 7–6 (7) defeat. Oberlin's No. 3 team, first-years Oliver Knijnenburg and Max Brose, coasted to a 6–3 win over Samuel Rossi and Jaden Coley to seal the doubles point for Oberlin.
 
Oberlin's top two singles players each lost in straight sets, but the team secured victories in the No. 3 through No. 6 matches. 
 
Lisann came out of the gates slowly against Tiffin's No. 1 Sharma and couldn't get himself back on track in the first set, which Sharma quickly won 6–1. In the second set, Lisann and Sharma went to deuce in many of the games. Sharma won the vast majority of clutch points to nab a 6–1, 6–2 win. 
 
Margain and Ritz traded holds for the first five games of the No. 2 singles match before the Dragon ran away with the first set, 6–2. In the second, Margain was far more competitive and stayed mentally tough while holding serve down 4–5 and 5–6. In the end, Ritz upped his level in the tiebreak for a 6–2, 7–6 win.
 
Makada and Huber squared off in a battle of the two biggest hitters on each team. Makada's unrelenting forehand helped him stay a notch ahead of Tiffin's No. 3 Huber throughout the match en route to a straightforward 6–3, 6–4 win.
 
McEldowney was battling a nagging injury and was unable to finish his No. 4 singles match against Brose, retiring down 4–3.
 
Needing to suddenly jump on court after McEldowney's retirement was tough for Oberlin's No. 5 Knijnenburg, who struggled to find his game in the first set against Coley. A mental reset on the break between sets was key for the first-year, who came out swinging in the second set. Knijenburg broke Coley's serve early and never let up for a 6–2 win in the second. The momentum carried over from the second into the super-tiebreak, which was never in doubt as Knijnenburg raced to a 5–7, 6–2, 10–4 win.
 
Third-year James Foster wrapped up the Yeomen's day with a win in the No. 6 slot. Taking on Rossi, Foster fell behind 2–0 before getting the match back on serve at 2–3. Eight games later, the Yeoman led 6–3, 4–0, and served out the match for a 6–3, 6–1 victory.
 
The Yeomen start conference play tomorrow, Sunday, April 6, when they host Wittenberg University.
 
Fans can keep up with their favorite teams on Instagram, Facebook, X, or TikTok, and watch all the home matches live online. The Crimson and Gold's home broadcasts can be accessed on TV through the official Oberlin College Sports Network app on Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.