In the first leg of a four-day, five-match trip across Maryland, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, the Highlanders swept two teams in shut out wins. Men's Tennis is 5-5 overall this season with 26 matches left on their slate entering this trip.

WATKINS PARK, Md. - The Highlanders cruised past Coppin State on February 14, defeating the Eagles 7-0. 

Pairs Michael Blando / Daniel Velek and Gilbert Chung / Nabil Abdallah clinched the doubles point with 6-3 and 6-0 wins in the #1 and #2 spots respectively, with Jayson Blando and Andreas Whelan-Merediz winning the #3 flight by default.

The Highlanders were nearly undefeated in singles, dropping just one set across five flights. The #6 singles flight was again won by default for UCR. 

Head Coach Mattias Johansson said, "Nice to begin the trip with a 7-0 win. The team seems fully motivated. Hopefully we will have a great trip."

LOUDINVILLE, N.Y. - On February 15 the Highlanders crossed state lines into New York headed for Siena College. The Highlanders secured a perfect start to the trip, with another shutout 7-0 win extending the current Highlander win streak to three. Johansson said, "It was a tougher match than the final score indicates. Lack of sleep and a lot of traveling made me slightly worried, but they stepped up and got the job done." Emphasizing the fight in his team, he said, "We saved two match points on court #2. It was huge getting the doubles point heading into singles." 

Pairs Gilbert Chung / Nabil Abdallah and brothers Jayson Blando / Michael Blando would clinch the doubles point in the #2 and #3 flights. 

The Highlanders would sweep singles as well, with the #2 flight retiring and Jayson Blando and Nikita Horunzhy in the #5 and #6 flights fighting through a third set to win their matches.

The Highlanders go into their lone double header of the trip tomorrow, February 16 facing Saint Francis College in Brooklyn, N.Y. at 5 AM PT and traveling directly to Hamden, Conn. to play Quinnipiac University at 2:30 PM PT.