With unseasonably warm temperatures the Aurora University men's tennis team opened the 2015 season on Saturday afternoon at Washington Middle School against the visiting Cardinal of North Central College. AU fell in the tightly contested match 5-4.

The day opened with doubles action and the Spartans got off to a good start with an 8-6 win from the No. 1 doubles pair of Ricky Hernandez and Brian Koski. AU would drop the matches at two and three doubles though to trail 2-1 going into singles.

Hernandez continued to stay hot as he won at one singles, 6-4, 6-4 and Koski won at two singles in an exciting match 6-3, 6-7 (10-12), 10-7). Spartan Jake Lipka rounded out the AU scorers with his victory at three singles in another crowd pleasing match. Lipka won 3-6, 6-3, 11-9. AU was unable to claim the overall win though as they lost the matches at four, five and six singles.

With the loss, AU is now 0-1. Next action for the Spartan men's tennis team comes on Sunday, March 15 when they host Judson University. Match time is set for 2:00 p.m. at Washington Middle School in Aurora, Illinois.