ABILENE, Texas – The men's tennis team at McMurry University could not have asked for a better opening to the 2013 season, blanking Heartland Conference rival Dallas Baptist University, 9-0, at Rose Park. The match was the season opener for both clubs.

The War Hawks had the Patriots in full retreat from the outset. McM began the day with a sweep of all three doubles matches.  At No. 1, Felipe Cruz and Preston Steblein won an 8-3 decision over Phillip Allen and Bradley Hilliard of DBU. 

At No. 2 doubles, vets Chris breaux and Casjen Rico made short work of the Patriots' Austin Serrett and Anthony Burch, 8-4.  At No. 3 doubles, a pair of newcomers to McM, Christiano Mendes and Dani Perez, showed their stuff right out of the blocks by posting an 8-0 drubbing of DBU's team of Ty McAllister and Nathan Wilson.

At No. 1 singles, Cruz cruised to a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Allen, while Perez defeated Hilliard, 6-0, 6-1.

McMurry continued its dominance in the remaining four singles matches, not losing more than three games in any set.  Breaux cut down Burch (6-1, 6-1) at No. 3 and Mendes defeated Wilson (6-2, 6-0) at No. 4.  Rico won over Serrett (6-1, 6-0) at the No. 5 position, while Steblein got past DBU's McAllister (6-3, 6-2) at No. 6.

The men's team also played an exhibition match earlier in the day versus the nation's top-ranked JUCO team, Collin County C.C., losing a 5-4 decision.

For McM head coach Mark Hathorn the day's was made more impressive in that the War Hawks were minus two of their top singles players due to injury.