PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College men's tennis team picked up a nice 8-1 victory Saturday afternoon, March 23, at home over Bard College at the Manhattanville Tennis Courts.
 
The Valiants (2-4) picked up their second straight victory this spring as they jumped out to a 3-0 early after doubles play against the Raptors (0-7) and then won the first five singles matches to clinch the win.
 
Rookies Alvaro de la Plaza (Malaga, Spain/Homeschooled (Laurel Springs, Calif.)) and Nick Schlapak (Dover, N.H./Dover) kicked things off at second doubles for the first victory of the day, an 8-0 win over their Bard opponents. Freshman Dylan Crowley (Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) and sophomore Maguire Balke (Yardville, N.J./Steinert) were next to take a match, 8-2, at third doubles. Junior Juan Huertas (Bogotá, Colombia/La Salle (H.S.) (Calif.)) and sophomore Jan Senkerik (Zlin, Czech Republic/The Hill Academy) – back with the team for the first time this season – closed out doubles for the early 3-0 lead with an 8-1 victory at first doubles.
 
Schlapak picked up the first singles win, 6-0, 6-1, at fifth singles and Crowley clinched the victory for Manhattanville's fifth win of the day, besting his opponent 6-0, 6-1, as well, at sixth singles. Senkerik dispatched his counterpart in straight sets at third singles, while junior Alex Fleischman (Riverside, Conn./King) picked up a 6-0, 6-2, win at fourth singles. De la Plaza was the last Valiant to win on the afternoon, taking second singles 6-1, 6-0.
 
The squad returns to action for a road match this Wednesday afternoon, March 27, when the Valiants travel to Mahwah, N.J., for a 4:00 p.m. meeting with the Ramapo College Roadrunners.