BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Ben Luke's match-clincher at No. 3 singles sealed a season-opening victory for the Covenant men's tennis team over Belhaven, 8-1, on Saturday night at the Dielen Tennis Complex at Birmingham Southern.

The match was moved to later in the day on Saturday after a snowstorm hit Lookout Mountain stranding the Scots on the mountain.

The win marked the third time in the last four years that Covenant has won its season-opening dual match.

Covenant (1-0) battled through a tough doubles portion of the match and earned wins at all three flights to take a 3-0 lead. The top duo of Logan Hull and Paxton Haggerty took an 8-6 win over Belhaven's Joan Soler and Zachery Presnall, while Luke and Gill Dunn were also 8-6 winners at the No. 2 spot over Grant Matherne and Matthew Ridden. Ethan Gibson and Chris Morton were 8-5 victors over Chris Stevens and Bryce Livingston in the third position.

Cameron Cortman gave the Scots a 4-0 match lead with his 6-0, 6-1 win over Ridden at No. 6. Luke then secured the win for Covenant with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Livingston at No. 3.

Dunn and Haggerty also posted wins in singles play. Dunn won 6-0, 6-2 against Matherne at No. 5, while Haggerty took a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Stevens at No. 4. 

Hull capped the match with a thrilling victory at the No. 1 spot against Presnall. After dropping the first set, Hull rallied for a 7-6(6) win in the second set before winning the third set, 10-7.

Belhaven dropped to 0-2 on the year.

UP NEXT

Covenant will be back on the road on Friday against Centre in Danville, Ky. First serve is set for 5:30 p.m.

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