The Waynesburg University men’s tennis team closed out its fall season by splitting a tri-match with Washington & Jefferson and Marietta on Saturday, Sept. 23. The Jackets fell to W&J, 7-2, before bouncing back to beat Marietta, 8-1.

In the first match, the Presidents dominated in doubles, sweeping all three matches. In singles, two Yellow Jackets, junior Josh Denham and senior Andrew Brunette, picked up wins. Denham won his match in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, while Brunette lost the first set, 2-6, before bouncing back to win the next two, 6-4, 10-8.

Waynesburg got much better doubles results in the next match against Marietta, sweeping all three. Denham and fellow junior Jonah Cooper did well as the number one pairing, winning 8-5. Senior Adam McKnight and sophomore Tanner McKnight fought to win their match, in a tiebreaker, 7-4. Sophomore James Zeremenko and junior Brian Drake closed out the doubles portion of the day with an 8-5 win.

In singles play, Cooper grinded out a three-set victory. After splitting the first two sets, 6-4, 4-6, Cooper won the final set that came down to a tiebreaker, 10-7. Denham won his match in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2, and Adam McKnight clinched the win for Waynesburg, winning both sets 6-0. Tanner McKnight and Drake capped off the day by winning their respective matches, both in three sets.

Cooper took over the number one spot as a sophomore last year. Although head coach Ron Headlee says some aspects of Cooper’s game still need work, he doesn’t think Cooper is far from reaching his potential.

“Number ones are tough,” Headlee said. “You’re playing the best person on the other team. I think [Cooper] has all the shots to stay with him…I just think what he’s going to have to learn a little bit more is the patience and setting up his shots a little bit better, mixing up his shots. Once he gets that, I think he can turn into a complete player.”

According to Headlee, Cooper worked with his father a lot on his serve this summer.

The men’s tennis team finished the fall season with a record of 2-2. Waynesburg will begin a 10 game spring schedule on Saturday, Feb. 17, in Erie, Pennsylvania, against Penn State Behrend. The Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships for the spring season will take place Friday, April 27, and Saturday, April 28, also in Erie. To Headlee, a big goal for the team going forward is to slowly climb up the PAC standings.

“It’s definitely my goal that as a team – being in the middle of the PAC this year,” Headlee said. “We don’t want to be one of the bottom teams. I want to try to at least get to the middle of the pack. Individually, if we keep getting better, then I think as a team we’re going to improve.”