ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Bates men's tennis team opened its spring calendar with a 7–0 loss to No. 12 Division II Saint Leo University Saturday afternoon at the USTA National Campus.

Saint Leo (2-0) claimed the doubles point with victories on all three courts. Phillippe Kosyagin and Theo Sardain fell 6–1 at No. 1 doubles, while Eric Diop and Josh Maller dropped a 6–4 decision at No. 2. At No. 3 doubles, Nicolas Ozer and James Sacco were edged 6–3.

In singles play, the Bobcats battled in several tightly contested matches. Diop pushed first-year Mahit Mekala (Bangalore, India) to a third-set super tiebreak at No. 2 singles after winning the opening set 6-4. Mekala rallied to win the match, taking the second set in a tiebreak (7-6) before winning the super tiebreak 10–1.

Maller also forced a third set at No. 6 singles, winning the first (6–2) before junior Enes Kocu (Ankara, Turkey) rallied to win the final two sets, 6–4 and 10–2.

The Lions earned straight-set wins at No. 1, No. 4 and No. 5 singles. At No. 3 singles, Sardain was forced to retire in the second set after Saint Leo sophomore Filippo Caporali (Cesena, Italy) claimed the first by a score of 6-1.

The Bobcats (0-1) move on to face Division II Rollins College Monday at 3 p.m. in Winter Park, Florida.