STEUBENVILLE, Ohio— The Baron tennis team faced a tough non-conference opponent in The College of Wooster in a match ending with an 8-1 loss. The score, however, does not tell the whole story of the battles fought on the courts to the last point.

"Playing a team like Wooster who has an unbelievable conference is good for our guys to get us ready for our own conference tournament," head coach Jeremy Ellis said. "I schedule tougher matches because I want the guys to have less pressure when we play our conference matches."

Although faced with a higher level of completion from the Fighting Scots, the Barons did not back down. Senior Paul Jarzynka and sophomore Zachary Quiza especially pushing the FUS team.

"Everyone played really well," Ellis said. "I saw what I wanted to see. Doubles did play well and when Zach and Paul pulled theirs out against a tough team that was great."

Grabbing the only win for the home team was the No. 1 doubles pair of Jarzynka and Quiza. They played as the underdogs throughout striving time after time to overcome the one point deficit they faced and in the end they pulled it out in the tiebreaker winning 9-8(7).

With strong hustle and the balance of Jarzynka's quick hands at the net and Quiza's keen placement of shots out of their opponents reach gave them the upper hand in the end.

"Doubles is a game of being aggressive but not too out of control and they did that," Ellis said. "So they just stayed steady and pushed forward and won it. After they were done with doubles I told them they could both win in singles too."

The dynamic duo took their coach's words to heart as they separated to play No. 1 and No. 2 singles. Quiza at No. 2 and Jarzynka at No. 1 were the last two matches played on the courts.

"Zach and Paul, they were two points away from winning both of those matches

and they just really played well," Ellis said. "Zach just grinds the points out, he just gets in the groove and wins. Paul is serving and volleying well and that keeps his opponents out of rhythm."

Quiza lost the first set 7-6(4) then cranked out the second set winning 6-1 and then took the tie breaker down to the wire but lost 12-10. In similar fashion, Jarzynka won the first set 7-6(7), lost the second 6-3 and also took the tie breaker to a 12-10 loss.

"Obviously Paul and Zach stand out but everyone is hitting the ball well and that's what I want to see," Ellis said. "Now if we can just stay away from injuries but still stay crisp it will be good."

The Barons play next on Friday April 11 at Allegheny College starting at 4:30p.m.