EAST GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T did not get the doubles performances it wanted, but the Aggies more than made up for it with a dominant showing in their six singles matches as they defeated Lenoir-Rhyne University 6-1 Tuesday afternoon in non-conference men's tennis action at Dudley High School Tennis Courts. 

As a result, the Aggies improved to 2-0 on the season and have yet to lose in singles thus far this season. The day was also marked by the return of one of the most decorated players in program history in graduate Vasil Ivanov after Ivanov missed the Aggies first match against Shaw University. 

A&T lost two out of three in doubles matches to fall behind 1-0 to the Bears before senior Esteban Lopez tied the match by making quick work of Zachary Cox 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1 singles. Lopez and Ivanov teamed in No. 1 doubles and lost to Cox and Vadym Rogynski 6-1. 

"I was really consistent with my shot today," said Lopez. "My opponent made a lot of errors in the first set, but in the second set, he was much stronger, but I stayed in there and got the win. I would have liked to have played better in doubles, but we did much better once singles started."

Sophomore Eder Blanco followed Lopez's win by defeating Rogynski at No. 2 singles, 6-1, 6-2. Blanco and freshman Alex Martinez won the Aggies only doubles match by defeating Joel Hemmings and Mauricio Hernandez 6-2. 

Freshman Mathieu Dussaubat moved to 2-0 in his young career with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Mattias Selde in No. 6 singles. Dussaubat teamed with sophomore Ethan Baly in doubles and lost to Selde and Connor Gibson 6-2. It was this match that clinched the doubles point for LRU. 

"My energy is what kept me going, and seeing the guys and hearing them all the time," said Dussaubat. "I thought we had some troubles in the doubles in terms of energy. Compared to Sunday, it wasn't there. But in the singles, we all played really well." 

In his return, Ivanov clinched the win for A&T at No. 3 singles with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Gibson. It was career win No. 34 for Ivanov. Martinez also moved to 2-0 in his career with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Patrik Alvestrand. The final singles match of the day had sophomore Ian Pedersen defeating Hemmings 6-3, 6-2. 

The Aggies return to action Saturday at 2 p.m. when they face King University at the Dudley High School Tennis Courts.