MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - After a year-long layoff and a shortened preseason, the Millersville men's tennis team opened its 2021 campaign with some stiff competition from an unbeaten Fairmont State club. Millersville picked up a point by winning doubles, but Fairmont State edged Marauders in four of five singles matches for a 5-2 win. 

Fairmont State improved to 4-0, and its early-season run includes a 5-2 win over three-time defending PSAC champ Mercyhurst. The match was Millersville's first since Feb. 29, 2020. 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
• Millersville started the dual by taking two of three doubles matches. Ben Fellman and newcomer Ting Yu-Yen teamed for a 6-3 win over David Velayos and Joao Martins at No. 2 doubles. In the No. 3 flight, Santiago Ramos and freshman Zach Pernia paired for a 6-3 win over Seena Saadevandi and Austin Noel. Carlos Martinez-Lucas and Frank Yanni were edged by Bartosz Losiak and Guiherme Pachane in a competitive 6-3 match. 
• While Fairmont State won five of six singles matches, two of Millersville's defeats came in three sets. Pernia's impressive collegiate debut continued with a hard-fought three-set win over Noel at No. 6. Pernia won tiebreakers in the first and third sets, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-5 (7-5). 
• At No. 3 singles, Ramos bounced back from a 6-3 first set defeat to win the second set 6-3 against Martins. Martins, however, rallied to a 6-0 win in the third. Martinez-Lucas started quickly against Pachane, winning his first set 6-3, but Pachane answered by winning the next two sets 6-3, 6-1. 

REACTION FROM COACH MATT HELSEL
• On the team's preparedness after a long break: "We were impressive today after going so long without competing. Fairmont State is a tough team with momentum, and has played four matches already, so this was a great test and great preparation for our upcoming PSAC schedule. Collectively, we all dropped a bit in our second sets except Ramos, so we'll take a look at that but otherwise I'm pleased with our performance."
• On positives from the match: "For Zach Pernia to deliver that performance in his very first college match speaks volumes for the kind of player he is and will be. Singles and doubles, he really stepped up today. He's a keeper. Our doubles was a big highlight today. We debuted three brand-new teams against a tough team, and we came away with a doubles point. We lean on Carlos and Frank a lot, so for our other teams to pull out wins is a good omen as we move forward. That was fun."
• On being back on the court for the first time in over a year: "Today was more than wins and losses. It was more than sports. Today was one big step in the road to recovery from a tough year. Today was a victory before we even walked on the court. These players, on both teams, on all teams, have sacrificed a lot and had to be very patient. I'm so glad they're getting the opportunity again to do what they enjoy and have invested so much of themselves into."

NOTES
• Prior to Saturday, Millersville had won eight consecutive regular season duals with its last loss coming on April 17, 2019. 
• It was the first time pairing for Pernia and Ramos and Fellman and Yen. Martinez-Lucas and Yanni had teamed up just once before, winning a No. 1 doubles match against Virginia-Wise on April 14, 2019. 

UP NEXT
• The Marauders continue a busy schedule with four matches in the next seven days. The first stop is at Jefferson on Monday, March 22.