CORAOPOLIS, Pa. - After a return from spring training in Florida, the Franciscan men's tennis team lost a tough 7-2 match to visiting opponent Mount Union College. With several team members under the weather, the Barons sported an abbreviated lineup after team introductions.

First on the court was doubles. Juniors Jarek Sulak and John Gallagher returned to form after uncharacteristically inconsistent play in Florida, rolling over their No. 1 doubles opponents 8-4. After holding Sulak's serve despite several double faults, the duo rolled off eight straight points to earn a comfortable lead they wouldn't relinquish. They broke serve at 7-4 for the win.

Playing together because sophomore RJ Watson is recovering from sickness, senior David Freytag and junior Connor Jooste made the best of an improvised No. 2 doubles position. Jooste's serve was broken three times, though the pair earned several service breaks of their own to keep the match close. Freytag's serve and volley tactics made the match a close one, before ultimately the Barons surrendered an 8-6 loss.

Singles specialist Walter Matt joined fellow freshman Jack Galla at No. 3 doubles. The Barons found themselves down 7-3 after missing a series of baseline errors. Behind aggressive play, Franciscan earned three quick games for a 7-6 deficit, before dropping the final game for the 8-6 final score.

Of the No. 3 doubles match, head coach Scott Greve said "I was very impressed with the play of our freshmen today. Both Jack and Walt stepped up and played without notice, and played really well."

Down 2-1 after doubles, the team looked to rebound during singles play. No. 1 singles player Jarek Sulak made the best of a situation which found his game compromised due to sickness. The junior recoded a number of service aces before losing 6-0, 6-2.

The far court was a much different story, as Galla played with promising confidence. The 6-2, 6-3 victory saw the Franciscan No. 5 singles player rip groundstrokes past his opponent's net efforts. Galla did well to neutralize his opponent's strong forehand, directing his shots deep into the backcourt for the win.

After Jooste's strong first serves weren't enough in his 6-2, 6-1 loss at No. 4 singles, Gallagher was locked in a struggle with his No. 2 singles opponent. He traded backhands with his Mount Union counterpart before he was edged in the first set, 6-4. Quickly down 5-2 in the second, Gallagher saved match point at 30-40 before rattling off four straight games to go up 6-5. He couldn't serve it out, and despite saving another match point, fell 8-6 in the second set tiebreaker.

Matt's forehands impressed at No. 6 singles. After losing the first set 6-4, he took the second 6-2 behind consistent groundstrokes finished by volley winners. The match was decided by a ten-point third set tiebreak that went Mount Union's way, though Matt made him work for every point in the 10-7 decider.

David Freytag also took a set from his opponent at No. 3 singles. After losing the first 6-1, the captain took the second set 7-5 in a tiebreaker. He found himself on the short end of his opponent's deep forehands and slice returns in the third set, losing it 6-0, and the match.

Greve saw the positive in the tough defeat. "The team is facing a lot of sickness right now" he said. "Some guys really stepped up and battled through some illness, and I was really happy to see that."

The Barons will take on non-conference opponent Otterbein University on Friday, March 24 at 3:00 p.m.