HOUSTON, Texas -- The LeTourneau men's tennis team took an early edge, but could not hold it in a 4-3 loss to St. Thomas in the season opener on Saturday in Houston.

It was the season opener for both LeTourneau (0-1) and St. Thomas (1-0).

LeTourneau took two of the three flights in doubles play to gain the doubles point. NCAA Division III scoring rules are changing and doubles are now worth one team point for the team that wins at least two of the three matches.

Zach Farris and Fernando Vazquez earned a tiebreak win over Steven Kuang and Raja Pandya 7-6(1), while Brayden Money and Timothy Black were 6-2 winners over Wilson Salazar and Pooya Turk.

Farris and Black were also winners in singles play.

Farris held down the No. 1 spot with hits 6-4, 6-1 win over Kuang. At No. 6, Black outlasted Hunter Kemball-Cook in three sets 6-2, 6-7(5), 10-5 for the victory.

St. Thomas rallied back in the match with wins in the middle of the singles lineup. Vazquez had a long battle at No. 2 with Pandya before falling 2-6, 6-2, 14-12. The host Celts clinched the match with Wilson Salazar's win at No. 5 singles.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau hosts Texas Lutheran on Friday in its home opener (3 p.m.).

FOLLOW THE YELLOWJACKETS

Be sure to follow LeTourneau athletics all season long on letuathletics.com and social media at Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram for up-to-date scores, news, and other information.