ADRIAN, Mich. - The Adrian men and women's tennis teams joined together on the court for the first time this season, splitting an afternoon match with the visiting Bethel (Ind.) Pilots at the Craft Tennis Complex.

Thursday's action was the first of the 2021 season for the Bulldog men, and of the four freshmen in competition for Adrian, all four brought home a victory, helping pace the black and gold to a season-opening, 7-2 win.

First-years Sebastian Smith, Sebastian Cowan and Brandon Falk each claimed their singles matches, while the duo of Falk and fellow freshman Jack Nahikian turned in an 8-5 score in their doubles contest.

Junior, Zachary Perry and Smith pulled off a 8-3 doubles win over Bethel's Jalen Maust and Tanner Pistelli to tally another point for the home side.

Then, in singles, Perry and fellow junior Ryan Cuddy closed out the scoring for Adrian with a win each, including a hard-fought three-set result for Cuddy.

As for the Bulldog women, a 2-1 disadvantage in doubles action ultimately cost the locals in the end, leading to a 5-4 final in favor of the Pilots.

The one-two punch of Jules Johnson and Elizabeth Himebauch (2-2) captured Adrian's lone win in duos, defeating Bethel's Kyla Heckaman and Saige Rinkenberger 8-6.

In singles, Johnson continued her impressive start to the 2021 season, sweeping Heckaman 6-1, 6-0 to improve to 4-0.

Liv Depies and Regan Snyder also emerged victorious in their respective singles duals. Snyder worked out a 6-1, 6-4 result over Anna Pope, while Depies needed a deciding third-set to get past Moana de Souza Martins.

Next up on the docket for the women are the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Small College Championships in Kalamazoo, Michigan from September 24th through the 26th.

The women will then rejoin the men on the road at Concordia (Mich.) on September 28th in Ann Arbor.