After a two-week layoff from match play, the men’s tennis team easily defeated host Utica College 9–0 to open conference play Friday. The Pioneers never won more than three games in any of the sets played during the match.

Fresh off a successful spring break trip to Hilton Head, S.C., in which the squad won all three of its matches, the Bombers never let up during the match. The doubles tandem of sophomore Jimmy Newton and senior Daniel Wolk were the first winners of the afternoon, defeating their opponent 8–1. The nationally ranked doubles pair composed of senior Taylor Borda and junior Josh Rifkin followed suit shortly thereafter winning 8–2.

In singles play, Newton and Wolk swept both of their opponents 6–0. Rifkin and sophomore Zach Stern played the closest matches of the day winning 6–1 and 6–3, respectively.

The South Hill squad has won five straight matches since losing its first match of the team’s 2010 campaign on Feb. 20. The Blue and Gold return to action when they travel to Geneva, N.Y., at 4 p.m. Thursday to take on Hobart College.