ALMA, Mich. - The Trine men's tennis team defeated Alma College for the second time this season, as they won 7-2 in their MIAA opener. The Thunder improve to 10-3 on the season and begin the MIAA season at 1-0.

The previous meeting between the two teams was an all singles format in which Trine won 23-9; the doubles matches didn't go quite as well. Trine won at first doubles as junior Dan Desper (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and sophomore Joe Dunbar (Carmel, Ind./Blessed Theodore Guerin) dominated 8-2. However, both second and third doubles for the Thunder were close losses. Sophomore Nick Ihrie (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) and junior David Murray (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) moved up to second doubles for the day and lost 9-7. Freshman Zach Richardson (Muncie, Ind./Delta) and junior Trevor Derby (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) continue to search for their first doubles win since Derby's injury as they fell at third doubles 8-6.

The singles matches were very familiar to the Thunder as they won all six of them. Dunbar won at first singles 6-3, 6-1 and Desper fought in a close match to win 7-6, 6-2. Murray looked like he was running out of steam, but came through in the end to win his third singles match 6-3, 4-6, 6-1. Freshman Joey Clark (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) improved to 11-5 overall as he won at fourth singles 6-3, 7-6. Ihrie won a very close match at fifth singles 6-2, 4-6, 10-8 and Richardson pulled out a win at sixth singles 7-6, 2-6, 6-4.

Trine will look to improve to 2-0 in MIAA play as they visit Calvin College on April 5th for a 4:00 p.m. match.