VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Saint Joseph's men's tennis team opened its 2016 fall slate at the Villanova Invitational on Friday.

The tournament, conducted in a two-plus-one format, features teams of two players competing in a best-of-three contest consisting of two singles matches and one doubles match.  The winners of each matchup move on through the main draw.

Junior Peter Dewitt and sophomore Dan Tan emerged victorious from a matchup with a duo from Wagner, claiming a 6-4 doubles win, while Tan took a 6-4, 6-2 result over Charlton Boyd in singles to clinch the victory.

Freshmen Scott Battaglia and Luis Janko impressed in their Hawk debuts, earning a clean sweep over Patrick Pascual and Brian Ward of La Salle.  After a 6-2 doubles win, Janko outlasted Pascual, 6-2, 2-6, 10-8, and Battaglia rolled past Ward, 6-2, 6-4.

Senior Valentijn van Erven and freshman Beekman Schaeffer earned a 7-5 doubles win over a pair from Delaware, but the Blue Hens scored victories in both singles matches to move on in the draw.

Sophomores Andre Fick and Tim Stierle fell in doubles play against a team from Wagner; Stierle came away with a 6-1, 6-1 singles win, but it wasn't enough as the Seahawks emerged with the match victory.

Juniors Nick Ringle and Alexander Schneider fell in three matches to a duo from Wagner.

Seniors Tristan Boustany and Kyle Chalmers received a bye and will open play on Saturday.

The Villanova Invitational continues throughout the weekend.