SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College men's tennis team started Liberty League play with a 9-0 sweep of Bard College on Friday afternoon at the Union Tennis Courts.
 
Union (1-0, 1-0 Liberty League) had little trouble with Bard (0-1, 0-1 Liberty League) in its first dual match of the season, dropping just one game in three doubles matches and conceding only eight games over the six singles matches as well. In all, 12 different players played a role in the victory for the Dutchmen, including four players picking up the first dual match wins of their Dutchman careers.
 
The home team set the tone with three dominant doubles victories. Senior David Bond and freshman Thomas McGuire started things off with an 8-0 win at second doubles, followed close behind by juniors Austin Egna and Max Egna with an 8-0 win of their own at the top flight. Freshmen Nate Bartlett and Ryan Dagan also earned their first collegiate dual match wins with an 8-1 win at third doubles.
 
Sophomores Cameron Klepper and Nick Weitzman clinched the win for Union with a pair of 6-0, 6-0 victories, as Klepper was victorious at third singles just before Weitzman earned the decisive fifth point at the fifth flight.
 
Senior Del Schunk dropped just one game in a 6-0, 6-1 win at fourth singles, followed by a 6-2, 6-0 win for sophomore Jack Andre at sixth singles. Freshman Aidan O'Brien picked up his first dual match victory with a 6-0, 6-2 win at second singles, while sophomore Ioannis Binopoulos finished off the sweep with a 6-3, 6-0 win at the top flight.
 
Select members of the team will return to action next weekend at the ITA Northeast Regional Championships, hosted by Hobart College beginning on Friday.