LAKELAND, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle men's tennis team, ranked No. 1 in the nation for the first time in school history, got the 2013 spring season off to a solid start Tuesday afternoon with a 9-0 win over Sun Conference foe Southeastern. It was the first match of the season for both schools.
 
The Blue and Gold dominated the doubles matches, winning all three contests by scores of 8-0, led by Chris Freeman and J.R. Leonik, who defeated Sergei Krasilnikov and Jordan Harris at the No. 1 spot. The second doubles match was won by Simon Felix and Kevin Chaouat over Andrew Dickens and David Adams, while the No. 3 match saw Anthony Grasso and Miguel Lopez Gomez take down Luke Witte and Will May.
 
In singles play it was more of the same for the Eagles, as no Embry-Riddle player dropped a set in any singles match. Spennare defeated Adams 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4, while Lopez Gomez did the same at No. 5, sweeping Witte, 6-0, 6-0. Felix dropped just one game to Dickens in the second spot, winning 6-1, 6-0, while Chaouat was equally as impressive at position six, defeating May, 6-0, 6-1.
 
Freeman battled through a tight first set before easily taking the second set against Krasilnikov, 7-5, 6-1 at No. 1 singles. Grasso got past Harris at No. 3 with relative ease, 6-2, 6-2.
 
Shortly after the match was completed, the NAIA released its coaches' preseason poll, which saw Embry-Riddle claim the top spot in the nation for the first time ever. The Eagles collected eight of the 11 first-place votes and totaled 279 points, eight points more than No. 2 Auburn Montgomery.
 
The Eagles are back in action next Wednesday, Feb. 6 when they will host NCAA II No. 22 Florida Southern at 3:30 p.m.