The 2026 spring season opened on Saturday for the Ashland University men’s and women’s tennis teams, with the men earning a 7-0 victory over Daemen. The win marked the first at Ashland for new head coach Marc Wurtzman. Wurtzman brings extensive experience, having served as head coach of numerous United States Tennis Association (USTA) district-qualifying adult teams at the Olympic Indoor Tennis Club and as director of the Wilson Tennis Camp director.

The women’s team would fall in a 6-0 decision to Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) in their season opener. The men’s team would improve to a 2-3 record in the 2025-26 season, while the women would fall to 0-4. The men’s team swept Daemen, winning all six singles matches and all three doubles contests.

In singles play, junior Kaj Salzano won No. 1. Freshman Eduardo Lima followed up with a win at No. 2. Junior Ryohei Miyake earned a decision at No. 3. and Sophomore Bernardo Duarte cruised to a 6-0 victory at No. 4. Junior Doug Cree would pick up a close battle win at No.5 with a 7-5 win in his 2nd match. Senior Reid Opel would round out singles play with a victory at No. 6.

The men’s team would also swept doubles action. Cree and Duarte won at No. 1, while Opel and Miyake would pick up the win at No. 2. To round out the day, the duo Lima and Salzano earned a win at No. 3. Ashland’s men’s and women’s teams will play an exhibition match at Duquesne on Feb. 7 with the match to start at 2 p.m.