NATICK, Mass. - The Regis (Mass.) men's tennis team suffered an 8-1 defeat to Wheaton College in its first local contest of the spring season on Saturday evening at the Natick Racquet Club.

With the win, the Lyons improve to 3-3, while the Pride falls to 9-4 with the defeat.

The Lyons started off the evening with a dominating performance in doubles play. After wins at second and third doubles, junior Jeremiah Ryser (Cross River, N.Y.) and freshman Javier Esteban De Celis (Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Spain) clinched a doubles sweep for the Lyons with an 8-2 victory over the Pride's Nolan Bebarta (Danville, Calif.) and Johnny Pallotta (Bay Shore, N.Y.) at first doubles.

Wheaton continued to roll once singles play got under way, clinching the match by winning the first two singles matches. Jorge Aguirre Martinez (Madrid, Spain) recorded the deciding point on the night, picking up a 6-2, 6-1 over the Pride's Cam Charbonneau (Guilford, Conn.) at second singles.

The Pride avoided a clean sweep thanks to a win by freshman Mitchell Weiner (Plano, Texas) at sixth singles to round out the match. Weiner defeated Diego Garcia Anton (Alicante, Spain) 6-3, 6-4.

Next up for the Pride, they'll play their first ever contest against a Division I institution as Holy Cross visits Weston on April 4. Wheaton will have a quick turnaround, playing Trinity at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. 

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