The Villanova men’s tennis team earned back-to-back victories this weekend, defeating Howard, 5–2, on Friday Feb. 6 in Bryn Mawr before securing a 4–2 win over Wagner on Saturday, Feb. 7.

The Wildcats improve to 2–2 overall on the season following the pair of matches.

Villanova opened the weekend with its first win of the season against Howard. The Wildcats secured the doubles point by winning two of three matches. Junior Kush Anand and junior Will Monahan earned a 6–2 victory on court No. 2, while Quincy Jones and Sherner followed with a 6–3 win on court No. 3.

“Since Drexel and Delaware, the main changes we’ve made were in singles,” head coach Brad Adams said. “Trying to use more of the court to spread the opponents out and capitalize on that. Making sure that we’re not giving free points away.”

In singles play, senior Cooper Gordon rallied after dropping the first set to win a three-set battle on court No. 1, 4–6, 6–4, 7–5. Ethan Carr added another point with a comeback victory on court No. 4, winning 5–7, 6–3, 6–2. Anand and Cameron Kruep each recorded straight-set wins, with Anand winning 6–3, 6–2 and Kruep earning a 6–4, 6–3 victory. Sophomore Quincy Jones and Monahan were defeated in close matches on courts No. 2 and No. 3.

Villanova carried that momentum into Saturday’s match against Wagner, earning its second consecutive victory, 4–2.

Villanova claimed one doubles victory from the duo of Anand and junior Thomas Wakefield, who cruised to a 6–1 win on court No. 2.

“Doubles had been pretty good,” Adams said. “We lost a couple of close points. We’ve been competitive, and the goal is to keep up the aggressiveness going forward.”

The Wildcats responded well in singles play, winning four matches to secure the comeback victory. Wakefield went the distance in three sets on court No. 3 to earn a 6–0, 3–6, 6–4 win. Carr followed with a dominant 6–1, 6–1 victory on court No. 4, while Anand added another point with a 6–2, 6–4 win on court No. 5. Kruep sealed the match for the Wildcats with a commanding 6–1, 6–0 victory on court No. 6.

Gordon and Monahan each competed in tightly contested three-set matches but fell short on courts No. 1 and No. 2. Despite dropping the doubles point, Villanova’s strong singles performance secured its second straight win.

“I wouldn’t say our success was an individual thing,” Adams said. “It goes to show how much depth we have. With Thomas out on Friday and Quincy out on Saturday, it shows that we have a lot of guys who can play. Kush and Cameron did a great job.”

The Wildcats will travel to Annapolis to face Navy on Saturday, Feb. 14. First serve is scheduled for 12:00 noon.