CINCINNATI – The Xavier University men’s tennis team opened up Atlantic 10 play with a 4-3 win over Dayton on Thursday afternoon at the Mercy-Fairfield Tennis Courts. The Musketeers improve to 5-5 overall and 1-0 in A-10 play while the Flyers fall to 5-8 and 0-1.

The Flyers won the first point of the match as they captured the doubles point by winning two out of the three matches. The lone XU victory came at No. 3 as Rustin Reys and Matt Zollman picked up a win in a tiebreaker (9-8 (6)) over UD’s Rex Cabrera and Jamison Downs.

The Musketeers secured the victory through strong all-around singles play. Junior J.R. Randall had the first XU win at No. 2 where he triumphed 7-6 (4), 6-1 over the Flyers’ Rob Altenau.

In fourth singles, sophomore Rob Simpson won a three set thriller over Jamison Downs, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. Simpson has now won two out of his last three matches.

At No. 5, Ryan Potts cruised to XU’s third point of the match with a 6-0, 6-0 blanking of UD’s Rex Cabrera. Potts improves his overall record to 13-7 and has posted wins in his last three matches.

Freshman Matt Zollman had the fourth and deciding point for the Musketeers at No. 6 as he picked up a 6-2, 6-3 victory versus Reaves Kathary.

The Musketeers will return to action on Monday, March 1 versus Bethune-Cookman, which is the first of XU’s three match Spring Break trip to Orlando, Fla.