GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin men's tennis team opened its MIAA campaign with a 7-2 victory over Alma College Saturday afternoon at the Strikwerda Tennis Courts.

The Knights improve to 10-3 overall with the victory.

Calvin gained early momentum by taking all three doubles points.  The Knights then sealed the win with victories at No. 2 and No. 6 singles and added victories at No. 1 and No. 2 singles.

At No. 1 doubles, junior Matt Winkle (St. Joseph, Mich./St. Joseph HS) and senior Taylor Asfour (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) combined for an 8-3 win. Freshman Rodrigo Castellanos Vaca Guzman (Tarija, Bolivia/Felipe Palazon) and junior David Brown (Lake Zurich, Il./Lake Zurich HS) were 8-2 winners at No. 2 doubles.  Senior Anthony Vroon (Grand Rapids, Mich./South Christian HS) and sophomore Jason Wolters (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) won 8-2 at No. 3 doubles.

VanWinkle was a 6-1, 7-5 winner at No. 2 singles and Wolters a 6-0, 6-0 winner at No. 6 singles, clinching the match.

Castellanos Vaca Guzman then picked up his first-ever MIAA singles victory, winning 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1 singles. Asfour followed with a come-from-behind 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles.

"It was a good way to open our MIAA season," said Calvin men's tennis coach John Ross who is now 179-97 at Calvin in dual match play including 54-25 against MIAA opponents. "We had great doubles play that got our team off to a fast start. I was very pleased with the way we competed. It was also special to see Rodrigo (Castellanos Vaca Guzman) pick up his first MIAA victory as a freshman and doing it at No. 1 singles."

Calvin returns to action next Wednesday when it travels to Hope for a 4 p.m. match.