UTICA, NY - Coming off a season-opening win at Medaille last Saturday, the Utica University men's tennis team will open up Empire 8 play against St. John Fisher and Alfred University this weekend. The Pioneers will travel to Rochester, NY for a 1 p.m. match against Fisher before hosting Alfred at 1 p.m. on Sunday. 
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers took down Medaille College 8-1 on March 26. The team swept the Mavericks in doubles action while going on to claim five of six singles matches. Damian Bruce (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville), LJ Nuzzo (Peru, NY/Peru Central), Austin McGrain (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon ), Ethan Trembley (Schenectady, NY/La Salle Institute) and Bradley Litz (West Winfield, NY/Mt. Markham ) were each of Utica's singles winners. 
 
Bruce's Big Start: Damian Bruce (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) started his 2022 campaign with a golden set, defeating his opponent 6-0, 6-0 in singles one last Saturday. Bruce also helped the team sweep doubles action after he and teammate LJ Nuzzo (Peru, NY/Peru Central) took first doubles, 8-5. 
 
Quick Work: Along with Bruce, Austin McGrain (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon ) won his first singles match of the season in a straight set sweep. McGrain took third singles 6-4, 7-5 after he and Trembley won in second doubles 8-5. Trembley's singles win came by default after 3-6, 6-3 and 2-2 scores while Litz took singles six in three sets, 6-2, 4-6 and 6-1. Nuzzo was another singles winner, taking second singles in three sets 6-1, 3-6 and 6-4. 
 
About Fisher: The Cardinals are 2-5 this season and are coming off of an 8-1 win over Oswego State on March 26. Jake Anthony tops the team with a 7-0 singles record and has only gone to three sets twice this season. Anthony and teammate Sean Danahy are also 5-0 as a doubles team. Also in singles, Jordan O'Connell is rocking a 4-1 mark while the team is 19-22 overall in singles. 
 
A Look at Alfred: The Saxons will come to Utica with a 1-6 overall record while in the midst of a five-match losing streak. Mark Brown and Wes Dennison are both 2-0 in singles play while Logan Cross and Michael Roberts also have a pair of singles wins to their names. The Saxons are 3-13 overall in doubles action while the duos of Brown/Cross, Dennison/David Lingenfelter and Roberts/Walker Waldon are each 1-0. 

Up Next: Utica will host non-conference opponent SUNY Delhi at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6.