Toledo, Ohio - The University of Toledo men's tennis team had a strong start to its season on the opening day of the Rocket Invitational at the UT Varsity Tennis Courts on Friday.

The Rockets opened the day at 10:00 a.m. against Youngstown State. Doubles team seniors Omar Espinosa/Serjen Olmedo defeated Youngstown's Pol Virgili Blanco/Jonas Suzuki in two sets (6-4, 6-2). In singles play junior Danilo Vukotic defeated Joao Garretto (6-4, 7-6(11)), senior Vince Anzalone defeated Yossi Dahan (6-1, 6-3), and sophomore Tyler Gargas defeated Erik Gran (5-7, 6-3, 10-2). 

Later in the afternoon, the Midnight Blue & Gold took to the court again, this time facing Duquesne. In doubles play juniors Thawin Suksathaporn/ Danilo Vukotic defeated Joey Matthews/Alejandro Rodrigues-Vidal 6-2, 6-0. sophomore Nikola Arsic/senior Juan Carranza defeat Dane Bendel/Jari Hanhimaki 6-2, 7-6(4). The Rockets took three singles victories over Duquesne with Anzalone defeating Chris Corrao (6-2, 6-2), Espinosa defeating Alex Mascioli (5-7, 6-2, 10-6), and freshman Cole Shoults defeating Graham Conron (6-4, 3-6, 10-8). 

"Frankly we haven't always played great at our own tournament," head coach Al Wermer said. "I'm not sure whether guys are distracted or nervous, but today I think our grit level was pretty good, our focus was pretty good, and all in all we're pleased with our start of the weekend." 

Tournament play will resume on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at the UT Varsity Tennis Courts with Toledo facing Cleveland State.

Toledo Results
Friday, September 28 
Singles Competition
Danylo Veremeichuk (Youngstown State) def. Thawin Suksathaporn (Toledo) 6-1, 6-2
Danilo Vukotic (Toledo) def. Joao Garretto (Youngstown State) 6-4, 7-6, 13-11
Vasilis Vardakis (Youngstown State) def. Luka Vitosevic (Toledo) 2-6, 7-6, 10-5
Vince Anzalone (Toledo) def. Yossi Dahan (Youngstown State) 6-1, 6-3
Tyler Gargas (Toledo) def. Erik Gran (Youngstown State) 5-7, 6-3, 10-2
Vince Anzalone (Toledo) def. Chris Corrao (Duquesne) 6-2, 6-2
Jared Isaacs (Duquesne) def. Reid Teatsorth (Toledo) 6-0, 4-6, 10-8
Omar Espinosa (Toledo) def. Alex Mascioli (Duquesne) 5-7, 6-2, 10-6
Cole Shoults (Toledo) def. Graham Conron (Duquesne) 6-4, 3-6, 10-8

Doubles Competition
Omar Espinosa/Serjen Olmedo (Toledo) def. Pol Virgili Blanco/Jonas Ken Suzuki (Youngstown State) 6-4, 6-2
Thawin Suksathaporn/Danilo Vukotic (Toledo) def. Joey Matthews/Alejandro Rodriguez (Duquesne) 6-2, 6-0
Nikola Arsic/Juan Carranza (Toledo) def. Dane Bendel/Jari Hanhimaki (Duquesne) 6-2, 7-6, 7-4

Full Results 
Friday, September 28
Singles Competition 
Danylo Veremeichuk (Youngstown State) def. Thawin Suksathaporn (Toledo) 6-1, 6-2
Danilo Vukotic (Toledo) def. Joao Garretto (Youngstown State) 6-4, 7-6, 13-11
Vasilis Vardakis (Youngstown State) def. Luka Vitosevic (Toledo) 2-6, 7-6, 10-5
Vince Anzalone (Toledo) def. Yossi Dahan (Youngstown State) 6-1, 6-3
Tyler Gargas (Toledo) def. Erik Gran (Youngstown State) 5-7, 6-3, 10-2
Jack Randall (Western Michigan) def. Luke PHILLIPS (Cleveland State) 6-3, 6-2
Peter Kuszynski (Western Michigan) def. Benjamin SLADE (Cleveland State) 6-4, 4-6, 12-10
Clark BILINOVICH (Cleveland State) def. Arce Lopez-Sanchez (Detroit Mercy) 6-0, 6-1
Raul TEICHMANN (Cleveland State) def. Adam Zychowicz (Detroit Mercy) 6-3, 6-3
Vince Anzalone (Toledo) def. Chris Corrao (Duquesne) 6-2, 6-2
Jared Isaacs (Duquesne) def. Reid Teatsorth (Toledo) 6-0, 4-6, 10-8
Omar Espinosa (Toledo) def. Alex Mascioli (Duquesne) 5-7, 6-2, 10-6
Cole Shoults (Toledo) def. Graham Conron (Duquesne) 6-4, 3-6, 10-8
Benjamin SLADE (Cleveland State) def. Joao Garretto (Youngstown State) 7-5, 6-2
Zac Faveri (Western Michigan) def. Yossi Dahan (Youngstown State) 6-4, 6-2
Jonas Ken Suzuki (Youngstown State) def. William MALM (Cleveland State) 6-3, 6-3
Erik Gran (Youngstown State) def. Kris Knof (Western Michigan) 6-2, 6-2
Luka Soskic (Detroit Mercy) def. Alejandro Rodriguez (Duquesne) 6-3, 6-2
Yevhen Sirous (Detroit Mercy) def. Jari Hanhimaki (Duquesne) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles Competition 
Omar Espinosa/Serjen Olmedo (Toledo) def. Pol Virgili Blanco/Jonas Ken Suzuki (Youngstown State) 6-4, 6-2
Luka Soskic/Yevhen Sirous (Detroit Mercy) def. Jack SANTILLI/William MALM (Cleveland State) 6-1, 6-4
Dino Bonetta/Gvidas Motuzas (Detroit Mercy) def. Zac Faveri/Kris Knof (Western Michigan) 7-6, 6-1
Thawin Suksathaporn/Danilo Vukotic (Toledo) def. Joey Matthews/Alejandro Rodriguez (Duquesne) 6-2, 6-0
Nikola Arsic/Juan Carranza (Toledo) def. Dane Bendel/Jari Hanhimaki (Duquesne) 6-2, 7-6, 7-4
Raul TEICHMANN/Luke PHILLIPS (Cleveland State) def. Vasilis Vardakis/Luke Purser (Youngstown State) 6-4, 6-2
Pol Virgili Blanco/Danylo Veremeichuk (Youngstown State) def. Clark BILINOVICH/Jack SANTILLI (Cleveland State) 6-2, 6-3
Jack Randall/Peter Kuszynski (Western Michigan) def. Jared Isaacs/Alex Mascioli (Duquesne) 7-5, 7-6, 7-4
Dane Bendel/Chris Corrao (Duquesne) def. Dino Bonetta/Gvidas Motuzas (Detroit Mercy) 6-4, 7-6, 7-4
Arce Lopez-Sanchez/Adam Zychowicz (Detroit Mercy) def. Joey Matthews/Graham Conron (Duquesne) 7-5, 6-4

Toledo Schedule 
Saturday, September 29
10:00 a.m. Toledo vs. Cleveland State
4:00 p.m. Toledo vs. Detroit Mercy

Full Schedule 
Saturday September 29
10:00 a.m. Toledo vs. Cleveland State
12:00 p.m. Youngstown State vs. Detroit Mercy
2:00 p.m. Cleveland State vs. Duquesne
4:00 p.m. Toledo vs. Detroit Mercy
7:00 p.m. Youngstown State vs. Duquesne (held at Shadow Valley Tennis Club in Maumee)

Sunday, Sept. 30
Schedule to be determined.