NEW ALBANY – Claiming two wins in doubles play proved to be the ultimate difference for the Northwest men's tennis team on Friday, as the Rangers edged Northeast, 5-4, to earn the team's first win of the season.

Northwest picked up a pair of solid wins at the first two slots in doubles play, with Joshua Stephenson and Adam Holley taking down Alan Riveria and Jacob Jeffries of NEMCC, 8-2, at the No. 1 position, while Zak Harbin and Dalton Young notched an 8-3 win at No. 2 against the Northeast tandem of Jacob Price and Tomas Tucker.

Northeast avoided the doubles sweep, however, thanks to a 9-7 victory against Xavier Curtis and Quentin Hutchinson.

Aside from Young's straight-set victory at the No. 2 position, singles competition proved to be tough for the Rangers. Although Northeast claimed three of the singles matches, the freshman Stephenson collected his second consecutive victory with a 6-2, 6-1 win at the No. 1 slot and Hutchinson held off Price, 6-4, 6-2, to give Northwest the close 5-4 victory.

Northwest improved to 1-3 on the season and will host No. 14 Gulf Coast on Tuesday, April 4 at 1 p.m.

Singles competition
1. Joshua Stephenson (NWCC) def. Alan Riveria (NEMCC) 6-2, 6-1
2. Dalton Young (NWCC) def. Chandler Walden (NEMCC) 6-0, 6-0
3. Jacob Price (NEMCC) def. Zak Harbin (NWCC) 7-6, 6-2
4. Tomas Tucker (NEMCC) def. Adam Holley (NWCC) 6-3, 6-1
5. Cory Lindsey (NEMCC) def. Xavier Curtis (NWCC) 6-4, 6-3
6. Quentin Hutchinson (NWCC) def. Andrew Price (NEMCC) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Joshua Stephenson/Adam Holley (NWCC) def. Alan Riveria/Jacob Jeffries (NEMCC) 8-2
2. Zak Harbin/Dalton Young (NWCC) def. Tomas Tucker/Jacob Price (NEMCC) 8-3
3. Cory Lindsey/Chandler Walden (NEMCC) def. Xavier Curtis/Quentin Hutchinson (NWCC) 9-7