GAINESVILLE, Fla. – UNCW men's tennis defeated Florida Atlantic in the season opener in thrilling fashion, 4-3, at Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex. In the penultimate match of the day, Joseph Wayand secured the victory in No. 3 singles to cap off his UNCW debut in three sets, 2-6, 7-5, 6-2. 

Florida Atlantic fell to 0-2 on the season. The Owls finished the 2024 season ranked inside the top 50. 

"Today was a great way to start the season and I'm really proud of our team. FAU is a very talented and well-coached team and today was a real battle," head coach Mait DuBois said. "We had to deal with some first-match stuff and I'm really proud of how the guys stayed the course. Joe Wayand clinching the match for us in his first match as a Seahawk after dropping the first set says a lot about his character. Outstanding performance all-around."

After FAU won the top doubles match, the Seahawks claimed back-to-back wins to secure the doubles point. Trey Mallory and Jordi Domenech won, 6-3, in No. 3 doubles against Segundo Goity Zapico and Lucca Pignaton. Harold Huens and Lukas Steffen defeated Marek Pazdera and Simon Myslivec, 6-4, in No. 2 doubles to give the Seahawks momentum heading into singles play.  

Huens, the reigning Coastal Athletic Association Player of the Year in singles, cruised to a two-set victory, against John Bernard in No. 1 singles, 6-0, 6-4.  

Steffen evened singles play at two with a three-set victory in No. 5 singles against Marek Pazdera, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. 

Wayand answered the call for UNCW, prevailing in his team debut to clinch in the deciding match with an epic three-set victory against Goity Zapico, 2-6, 7-5, 6-2. 

UP NEXT

UNCW wraps up the weekend against Florida (2-2) on Sunday at 11 a.m. The Gators were ranked inside the top 30 to end the 2024 season.