ESCANABA — The Escanaba boys tennis team took the court for the first time this spring and fell 7-1 to Negaunee here Monday.

The Eskymos only win came at No. 4 singles as Kyle Smith defeated Axl Sarasin 6-1, 6-1 in his varsity debut. The sophomore has a tremendous tennis I.Q. and Kyle has an athletic and smart style of play that is going to frustrate all his opponents at four singles this season.

The Eskymos did have some other matches where they had lots of positives. Freshman Chase Korpi lost 3-6, 4-6 to Easton Guenette. Korpi, the only freshman of the group, is a fierce competitor Escanaba coach Alan Adams stated. “He is a high level hockey player and I’m looking forward to watching him grow this season and in the years to come.”

Junior Brett Swanson took his match to three sets 6-3, 2-6, 4-6. “Brett won the first set decisively with both players settled into long rallies while battling the wind and cold.”

The doubles teams showed opening nerves but Jacop Prey and Logan Stephens fell 3-6 in the first set and dropped the second set 5-7 with a tie-breaker.

“Our doubles teams have all new pairings this season,” Adams said, “You don’t really expect to see new doubles teams gel until week two of the season.”

Singles

No. 1 Guenette, N def. Korpi, 6-3, 6-4; No. 2 O’Dovero, N def. Economopoulos, 6-2, 7-5; No. 3 Larson, N def. Swanson 3-6, 6-2, 6-4; No. 4 Smith, E def. Sarasin, 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles

No. 1 Lajimodier-Walters, N def. Prey-Stephens, 6-3, 7-5; No. 2 Knapp-Tinckell, N def. Asgaard-Parlato, 6-0, 6-1; No. 3 Steede-Emard, N def. Klenow-Derkos 6-1, 6-1; No. 4 Nelson-Alba, N def. White-McIntyre, 6-0, 6-2.