(SAN DIEGO) No. 23 PLNU Men's Tennis built off a strong preseason, which included two exhibition victories over NCAA Division I opposition, to defeat Westmont 7-0 in its regular season opener on Saturday afternoon.
 
"The men's team also had a strong start to the season today," Wheeler said of the men who followed up the women's 7-0 win with one of their own. "The doubles point was a close battle, but our guys on courts 1 and 2 were able to play their best tennis in the important moments at the end of the sets to secure the point."
 
After Westmont won the number three doubles matchup, Point Loma came back to win the other two matches and claim the doubles point.
 
Fabian Penzkofer and Nabeel Khan won 6-4 at number two before Tyler Davis and Alexander Leischner teamed up to win 7-5 at number one.
 
The Sea Lions built off their doubles finish to win all six singles matches.
 
David Strassburger took the first singles point with a 6-2, 6-1 victory at number four, while Andrew Suver and Khan both won 6-1, 6-2 at number three and five respectively.
 
Leischner at one (6-3, 6-4) and Davis at two (6-3, 6-1) also won, with Alejandro Castaneda completing the sweep with a 6-3, 4-6, 10-4 victory at number six.
 
"The men started strong in singles and carried that momentum to the finish of the match," Wheeler said.
 
Point Loma (1-0 overall) has over a week off before its next match, when PLNU hosts Westcliff on Feb. 14 at 3 p.m.