Both Waynesburg University tennis teams were in action this past weekend. The men’s team hosted its first matchSaturday against Muskingum, while the women’s team hosted Mt. Aloysius Friday, and the Muskies Saturday. The men’s team started 1-0 with a 9-0 win over Muskingum, and the women dropped both matches falling  to 1-4 on the season.

The women’s team fell 6-3 to Mt. Aloysius. The next day against Muskingum, in theory, was even tougher for the Jackets, as they were without two of their top players, Haley Sweeney and Sierra Stevens. Despite not being at full-strength, Waynesburg held its own before falling short in the end, 5-4.

The Jackets had success against the Muskies last season, winning 8-1, but couldn’t replicate it this year.

The men cruised to a 9-0 win in their first match of the season. They will play considerably fewer matches than the women in the fall portion of the schedule, as they only have three matches total before starting the spring campaign.

Despite not being able to observe too much over three match fall season, head coach Ron Headlee was impressed with his team, particularly Joey English, who made his debut as the No. 1 singles player, replacing graduate and now assistant coach Jonah Cooper. English beat Muskingum’s Joshua Brown, 7-5, 6-4.

 “I thought the men played well today,” Headlee said. “Our lineup was all different. It was the first time for Joe being number one. He was a little nervous to start but played well after that. 

Another player Headlee was impressed with was Michael Saliba, who took care of Chirs Veney, 6-1, 6-3.  

Sophomore Keaton Moorehead also performed well, beating Seth Miles, 6-2, 6-0.  

For both teams, there is room to work and develop as the fall progresses. However, the key to the women improving, Headlee said, will be for them to be able to capitalize on winning tight matches.

“They’re losing a lot of close ones,” Headlee said. “Just being a little more aggressive in the tiebreaks… They’re improving. Mt. Aloysius beat us 8-2 last year, so we’re getting better.”

The women will continue actionThursday, Sept. 26 at home against Geneva. The men only have two matches left in the fall, starting Monday evening at Geneva, before finishing up Oct. 6 in a non-conference match against Frostburg State.

For Headlee, the men’s team still has a lot to prove as the season goes on.

“We’ll find out more about our team. It’s going to be a tougher test for us, so we’ll see how that goes,” he said.