HARROGATE, Tenn. --- Members of the Tusculum University men's tennis team made their 2023-24 season debuts at the two-day Lincoln Memorial University Invitational on Friday.

The event is utilizing a "hidden dual" format, in which teams play singles matches in the morning and doubles contests against one or more opponents in the afternoon. Tusculum went 3-3 in singles play and earned victories in four of their five doubles matches.

In singles against Carson-Newman, Will Gee claimed a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 win over Marnix Van Dalen, while freshmen Rens Verhaar and Anton Krondell each picked up wins. Verhaar was a 6-0, 7-6 (8-6) winner over Yehor Opanasenko and Krondell collected a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Lars Hordijk.

In doubles, Gee and Miles Ray picked up a pair of wins, beating the Carson-Newman team of Van Dalen and Hordijk 7-5 and defeating Harry Jordan and Joao Cardoso of Union 6-4. Ivan Ivars and Sarthak Sharma had a 7-6 (7-2) win over Opanasenko and Marc Janse of Carson-Newman, and Verhaar and Krondell were 6-2 winners over Luke Geduldt and Victor Bourguignon of Union.

Tusculum will return to the courts for singles action Saturday at 10 a.m., followed by doubles play in the afternoon.

LMU Invitational at Harrogate, Tenn.
Day 1 of 2

Singles vs. Carson-Newman
Will Gee (TU) def. Marnix Van Dalen (C-N) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
Marc Janse (C-N) def. Yuki Ikeda (TU) 7-5, 6-1
Gjorgji Jankulovski (C-N) def. Miles Ray (TU) 6-2, 6-1
Paul Gayk (C-N) def. Marco Jalalian (TU) 6-3, 7-5
Rens Verhaar (TU) def. Yehor Opanasenko (C-N) 6-0, 7-6 (8-6)
Anton Krondell (TU) def. Lars Hordijk (C-N) 6-4, 7-5

Doubles vs. Carson-Newman
Will Gee/Miles Ray (TU) def Marnix Van Dalen/Lars Hordijk (C-N) 7-5
Gjorgji Jankulovski/Paul Gayk (C-N) def. Rens Verhaar/Anton Krondell (TU) 6-3
Ivan Ivars/Sarthak Sharma (TU) def. Marc Janse/Yehor Opanasenko (C-N) 7-6 (7-2)

Doubles vs. Union
Will Gee/Miles Ray (TU) def Harry Jordan/Joao Cardoso (Union) 6-4
Rens Verhaar/Anton Krondell (TU) def. Luke Geduldt/Victor Bourguignon (Union) 6-2