GREENCASTLE, Ind. -- The Kenyon College men's tennis team prevailed in a tough test against the DePauw University Tigers on Saturday, coming out on top 4-3. The victory kept No. 20-ranked Kenyon undefeated to start the season, boosting the team's record to a flawless 5-0 overall and 2-0 against North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) foes following road wins on back-to-back days.

The Owls found themselves in a hole early as the home team struck first in doubles. DePauw landed a big blow as the Tigers swept the three doubles matches to take an early lead in the dual. The sweep would have been an even bigger deficit to overcome in years past, but with the national change to doubles scoring that counts doubles as one decision, the Owls still had plenty of life down 1-0 instead of 3-0.

DePauw downed Jay Kedar Dixit and Josh Finkle 6-3 in the No. 2 doubles match before beating Rishil Kondapaneni and Eric Zhang 6-4 at No. 3. Kenyon's top doubles duo of Paulo Pocasangre Kreling and Alejandro Gonzalez waged war against DePauw's No. 1 pairing of Will Cramer and Finley Buelte, but the Tigers came out on top in the tiebreaker to win 7-6 (7-4).

Kenyon needed every point possible as the competition stayed tight in singles. Fortunately for the Owls, their top two players had more fight left in them after the doubles battle. Pocasangre Kreling pulled off a comeback win in the No. 1 flight, overcoming a 6-4 first-set loss to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. Gonzalez got the win at No. 2, clinching a hard-fought 7-5, 6-1 sweep.

The top of the Owls lineup continued to boost the team's efforts as Kondapeneni kept Kenyon rolling with a 6-4, 6-1 sweep in the No. 3 bout.

Though the Owls won the top three flights, DePauw continued to push for the victory with wins down the singles ladder. The Tigers toppled Juozas Cioladis 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 4 and won 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 over Rakkan Audeh at No. 6. However, a 6-3, 6-3 win by Zhang in the No. 5 match helped tip the scales in Kenyon's favor as the visiting Owls completed the comeback to win the dual 4-3.

Kenyon will look to carry the momentum of the gritty win into the team's upcoming spring break trip. The Owls will flock to Florida for four duals at the USTA National Campus in Orlando from March 7-12. Next up on deck is a matchup against Allegheny College at noon on Friday, March 7.