NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio - Franciscan men's tennis opened up its spring 2016 season with some tough nonconference competition, losing two 9-0 matches to Oberlin College and Baldwin Wallace University.

"Losing matches 9-0, 9-0 doesn't necessarily reflect how well they were playing but it's honestly good matches to start the season," head coach Jeremy Ellis said. "It's a better start than normal for us since we've had so much more practice time than we usually do. Although they are really competitive matches, it's nice having really tough matches at the beginning so the guys can stay loose and play big and not be concerned about conference matches."

The day started out bright and early with an 8 a.m. match against the Yeomen of Oberlin College, who were ranked No. 12 in the ITA Central Region, presenting a lot of challenges to the Barons from the very beginning.

Sophomores John Gallagher and Jarek Sulak made their debut at No. 1 doubles against Oberlin after finishing the 2015 season undefeated at No. 2 doubles. Along with the challenge of playing the Yeomen's top two players, Sulak spent last semester studying abroad in Austria and is still working on getting his stroke back, all of which contributed to the two sophomores first doubles loss together 8-2.

"They played a really tough team but it was a good match for them for the start of the season, a really tough one," Ellis said. "John and Jarek are still trying to find their legs from the break, from Jarek being over in Austria, but that's going to come together."

The best doubles match took place on court No. 3 with sophomore Connor Jooste and senior Joseph Staniszewski taking on Matthew Gittings and Brandon McKenna. Jooste and Staniszewski had three match points but could not grab the win, losing 9-7.

Senior Zachary Quiza played in the most competitive singles match of the day on court No. 1. Quiza was down 3-0 in the first set but made a comeback only to lose the first set 7-5. The second set was not as close as the senior lost 6-1.

Approximately six hours after the end of the Oberlin match, Franciscan took the courts once again, this time to face Baldwin Wallace University. The Yellow Jackets and the Barons faced off in the fall season with BW coming away with an 8-1 victory and Franciscan was determined to have a better outcome the second time around.

Senior captain David Freytag and Quiza played the best doubles match on court No. 2. The two seniors were just points away from winning but fell to the Yellow Jackets 9-7.

Freytag also played a strong singles match at No. 4 despite losing 6-4, 6-0.

"David is playing really good in both doubles and singles," Ellis said. "He's come out to play, so that's been good to see."

Just one court away, Jooste also played one of the most competitive singles matches at No. 5, losing 6-2, 6-2.

"Connor has been playing great, even though the scores don't reflect how well he played," Ellis said. "He stepped up big."

Despite two sweeps, Ellis was pleased with his team's performance in the season opener, especially in a doubleheader against extremely tough competition.

"It's tough, especially when they go long, but it helps too," Ellis said about playing back-to-back matches. "It helps get them ready for normal matches. I don't know if we've done a doubleheader in previous years. I think playing two matches that are very top-caliber is what makes it hard. You don't want to go into the next match after you've lost 9-0 but it helps with their mental game. They're ready. It will be a good year."

The Barons will return to the court again next weekend when they travel to take on Otterbein College on Saturday, February 20 at 1 p.m.