CLAREMONT, Calif. – No. 13 Trinity University Men's Tennis fell, 5-2, to No. 17 Gustavus Adolphus College (MN) in the opening night of the 2023 Stag-Hen Invitational, the annual joint event hosted by Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (CA) and Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (CA).
 
Thursday night's opening-round bout between the Tigers (5-3) and Gusties (11-4) was hosted by the fifth-ranked CMS Stags at the Bizantz Tennis Center, alongside Claremont's victorious matchup, 6-1, with No. 24 George Fox University (OR).
 
After the Tigers ceded the NCAA I-style doubles point in a sweep, senior Hao Nguyen (Sugar Land, Texas / Strake Jesuit) got Trinity on the board, 2-1, from the second line of singles on back-to-back 6-1 marks.
 
Sophomore Eric Liao (Taipei, Taiwan / Boca Prep [FL]) evened up the tally, 2-2, as the next to check in after a three-setter in comeback fashion, 1-6, 6-0, 6-2. Senior Alessio Azzalini (Rome, Italy / Istituto Visconti) had just evened his match in the top line, 4-6, 6-3 but dropped the contest in retirement.
 
Both the fifth and sixth lines required third sets as well though both went in favor of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference representative.
 
No. 13 Trinity Men's Tennis is slated to battle No. 24 George Fox next in the 2023 Stag-Hen Invitational. With inclement weather forecasted for Southern California Friday, the match's start time is to be determined but appears likely to be postponed to Saturday morning. Return to the Tiger Men's Tennis schedule at TrinityTigers.com for the latest information.