NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. – The Niagara men’s tennis team started its spring schedule with a 6-1 win over the Saint Francis (Pa.) Red Flash on Saturday.

The Purple Eagles (3-0) dropped only two matches – a single and double match - against St. Francis (0-2). NU took the doubles point with identical 8-4 wins in No. 1 and 3 doubles.

“Overall it was a good first match,” head coach Anthony Nguyen said. “We didn’t play particularly well in doubles and had a slow start in singles, but I was happy with the way the team competed.”

In singles action, David Raymond overcame a slow start to pick up his third win on the season in the No. 1 slot. Raymond dropped the first set, 6-3, before rallying to win the match by winning the second set 6-3 and third set 6-1. Oliver Dufour-Coursol had little trouble beating Sergio Carvaial in straight sets (6-0, 6-1) in No. 3 singles and Mathieu Lacasse won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0. Lorenz Schwojer won his sixth straight match after Chris Jimenez retired midway through the first set. Newcomer freshman Joseph Smithyman defeated Lawson Barter, 6-2, 6-4, in his first collegiate match.

Niagara is 3-0 for the first time since the 2005-06 season.

The Purple Eagles host Robert Morris on Saturday, Feb. 2.

Niagara University 6, Saint Francis 1

Singles competition
1. Raymond, David (NIA) def. Andres Rosa (SFU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
2. Washi Gervais (SFU) def. Elortegui, Michael (NIA) 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
3. Dufour-Coursol, O. (NIA) def. Serio Carvaial (SFU) 6-0, 6-1
4. Schwojer, Lorenz (NIA) def. Chris Jimenez (SFU) 3-2, retired
5. Lacasse, Mathieu (NIA) def. Juan Pardo (SFU) 6-3, 6-0
6. Smithyman, Joseph (NIA) def. Lawson Barter (SFU) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Raymond, David/Dufour-Coursol, O. (NIA) def. Andres Rosa/Lawson Barter (SFU) 8-4
2. Washi Gervais/Serio Carvaial (SFU) def. Lacasse, Mathieu/Schwojer, Lorenz (NIA) 8-4
3. Elortegui, Michael/Smithyman, Joseph (NIA) def. Juan Pardo/Matthew Jurjevich (SFU) 8-4