MAYFIELD, Ohio – The College of Wooster men's tennis team does not shy away from scheduling elite competition, as was the case Saturday afternoon when the Fighting Scots opened the spring season against second-ranked Case Western Reserve University, which finished as the NCAA Div. III runner-up the last two seasons. The Spartans topped the Scots 9-0 at Mayfield Racquet Club.

Sophomore Patrick Johnson and junior Shivam Dewan drew a tough assignment at second doubles. Although not playing with his normal partner on Saturday, CWRU's Vishwa Aduru is part of the top-ranked doubles team, per the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Aduru paired with Justin Prochnow for an 8-1 win on Saturday.

In the top flight, senior Alex Drewes and first-year Gabriel Escobar scored four points off Casey Hishinuma and Ansh Shah in an 8-4 match, while at third doubles, senior Connor Streeter and first-year Namit Misra fell 8-0 to Rohan Bhat and Ajay Mahenthiran.

Aduru, who played second singles and second doubles in the 2022 national championship match, turned aside Drewes 6-1, 6-1 in first singles. Escobar debuted at second singles and won four games off Mahenthiran, who took the match by identical 6-2 counts.

Dewan shook hands with Hishinuma at 6-3, 6-0 in what was the third flight match, while Johnson took five games of Bhat at No. 4 in a 6-3, 6-2 contest.  Misra fell 6-0, 6-3 to Ben Martin at No. 5, and senior Alex Anikeeff played sixth singles, falling to Anmay Devraj 6-0, 6-0.

Next, Wooster (0-2) plays its first home match against Otterbein University (3-1) on Sunday, February 19. Start time at Aspen Racquet Club is set for 11 a.m.