PUEBLO, Colo. – MSU Denver picked up two solid victories Thursday in its opening tennis duals of the season, as the Roadrunners women sailed to a 7-0 sweep and the men won 5-2 in matchups with Texas-Permian Basin.
 
The men rallied after losing the doubles point, with the deciding match at No. 2 as Billy McDermott/Jeanloup Auzias lost in a tiebreaker 7-6 (4).
 
But in singles play, the Roadrunners cruised to five victories, including Auzias at No. 1 (6-2, 6-3) and Juho Kantola at No. 2 (6-4, 6-4). Alejandro Jimenez (No. 3) and Carlos Pinedo (No. 5) each won a first-set tiebreak en route to a sweep. Dayton Fisher won 6-2, 7-5 at No. 6, and McDermott went to a super set at No. 4 before falling 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5).
 
"The guys lost a closely-contested doubles point, but responded well in singles," MSU Denver coach Josh Graetz said. "Today could have very well gone the other way if we didn't maintain focus."
 
For the women, with new players holding down the Nos. 2, 4 and 5 spots in the singles lineup, the Roadrunners had little trouble.
 
Particularly strong in singles were veterans Isabel Heras at No. 1 (6-1, 6-3) and Marie Cool at No. 6 (6-1, 6-1). The Roadrunners won the three doubles matches by scores of 6-3, 6-4 and 6-3 to win that point.
 
Transfer Kinsey Fields won at No. 2 singles 7-6 (3), 6-3 and teamed with Heras at No. 1 doubles.

"Our ladies took a care of business today," Graetz said. "It was fun to watch our newcomers raise the energy and complement our returning core. It was a very positive day for them."
 
MSU Denver is back in action Friday in Pueblo, Colo., with both teams facing Lubbock Christian (Texas) at 1 p.m., and then the women playing again at 5 p.m. against Fort Hays State (Kan.).