For the second year in a row, the Muhlenberg men’s tennis team opened

Sophomore Doug Wayne (above) and freshman Andrew Brick broke service twice as they won at No. 3 doubles, 8-3.

its spring season with a victory over Moravian. The 5-2 win was the fifth in a row against the Mules’ Lehigh Valley rival.

Muhlenberg, playing inside due to strong winds, started off in impressive fashion by sweeping the doubles. Seniors Adam Nodiff and Brad Gutwillig, playing first doubles, won six of the last seven games to come from behind and win, 8-5, to complete the sweep.

Muhlenberg clinched the match after the fourth, fifth and sixth singles were all victorious against Moravian (0-2). Freshman Brian Wernick and sophomore James Goldman won in straight sets. Junior Michael DiVita had the longest match of the day as he won the first set before dropping the second, 5-7. He trailed 2-1 early, but rebounded to win the third, 6-4, and lock up the victory for Muhlenberg.

“I was conditioned pretty well,” said DiVita of his long match. “My forehand was pretty good today. I learned that if I got him running around, he would start missing shots. I used that to my advantage.”

Nodiff went 2-0 as he came back after a long wait to win at second singles in straight sets.

With the victory, Muhlenberg also expanded its lead over Moravian in the 2005-06 Matte Award standings to 7-4. The match was the first of seven meetings between the two schools in an 11-day period. On Thursday the women’s lacrosse teams meet at Moravian.

Click here for box score.