Joseph Shie posted a 3-1 weekend as Monmouth College opened their men's tennis season on the road Friday and Saturday.
     
Short a pair of freshmen who will join the tennis team after wrapping up their swim season at the Midwest Conference Championships, the Scots were clipped Friday at Aurora 5-4 and overpowered 8-1 by North Central on Saturday.
     
Shie dropped just six games at No. 1 singles where he opened the season with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Aurora on Friday night. He followed the debut with a 6-0, 6-4 win over North Central Saturday for a perfect singles weekend. Shie teamed with fellow sophomore Zach Harris at No. 1 doubles to roll to an 8-2 win over Aurora before falling 8-4 at North Central. Harris also opened his No. 2 singles season with a win, topping his Spartans' counterpart 6-4, 6-2 before falling in straight sets at North Central.
     
Newcomer Brendan Guenther battled to a 6-4, 6-4 win over Aurora on Friday at No. 4, but was swept the next day at North Central. Playing at No. 3, Alex Martin nearly picked up a Friday night win, but fell in straight sets to Aurora. Martin was outlasted in the first set 7-6 before falling 6-2 in Set 2. Martin and Guenther pushed their No. 2 Aurora doubles opponents, but fell 8-6 in their first doubles match this season. In his collegiate debut, Jory Masterman was dropped in straight sets both days at No. 5.
     
Monmouth travels to Elmhurst next Saturday before heading to Florida for their spring trip the week of Mar. 3.