MOUNT VERNON, Iowa - The Loras College men's tennis team hit the road to start its 2024 campaign at the Cornell Invitational.

Between the four teams, Loras, fellow American Rivers Conference competitor, Central College, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and host, Cornell College, a total of 72 matches were played across six flights.

In flight A singles play, Diego Mejías defeated both Trent Devore from Cornell 3-6, 7-6 (5-0), and 10-6 and Steven Benoy from UW-Stevens Point 6-3 and 6-4. In doubles play, Mejías and Gage Becker split their pair of matches, earning the victory over Steven Benoy and Fred Diehl from UW- Stevens Point, 7-5, but falling to Devore and Mills Arnold from Cornell.

In doubles play in flight B, Lucas Healy and Sean Sonoiki split their matchups with a 6-4 win over Cornells' Drew Campbell and Zach Ong and a 6-7(4) loss to Ernest Chedzoy and Benny Ramker from Central.

Healy and Sam Cañas swept their competition in flight C singles against the Dutch. Healy came up with a 6-4 and 6-3 win, while Cañas battled posting scores of  3-6, 6-2, and 1-0 (9) in the tiebreaker to secure the win. Healy also recorded a win in his single match against UW-Stevens Point as he defeated Malcom Rice 0-6,6-7 (6). Doubles split with a 6-2 win over Central from Horia Popa and Cañas, but came up short against UW-Stevens Point.

The Duhawks split in flight D singles and doubles. Loras swept the host team with wins from Popa who went 3-6, 7-6(3), and 1-0(6) and Diego Hernandez who posted scores of 6-4, 3-6, and 1-0(6). Henry Condo and Hernandez secured a 6-4 win over Evan Davis and Edwin Holyoake of Cornell at the doubles spot, however round two was taken by UW-Stevens Point.

Flight E for Loras was split as Nick Carney defeated Erick Dirksmeyer from Cornell 6-0 and 6-2 along with Jackson Craig who defeated Benett Gregor 6-1 and 6-2. This duo was also victorious in doubles and took down Gregor and Dirksmeyer 6-1. However, in round two, UW- Stevens Point had the upper hand in singles and doubles.

Rounding out the tournament, flight F was all Purple and Gold as Jack Seda and Luis Garcia swept in singles and doubles in both rounds one and two. Seda and Garcia secured wins over Cornells' JJ White and Lincoln Rener respectively by scores of 6-1 and 6-2, and 6-3 and 6-1 in singles play. For doubles they recorded a 6-1 victory over the same pair from Cornell. Against UW-Stevens Point, the duo for Loras defeated Sam Zapata and Alex Sedlacek 6-4 to close the tournament out.

Up Next: The Duhawks travel to Cedar Rapids where they will play in the A-R-C Individual Conference Tournament. Matches will begin at 9 a.m.