ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Otterbein University men's tennis team picked up a 6-1 win over Mount Union on Thursday afternoon, opening Ohio Athletic Conference play with a victory.

Otterbein grabbed the early edge by taking two of three doubles matches. Juniors Jake Chilcote and Neil Reddy secured a 6-3 win at No. 1, while senior Max Fickas and junior Nikita Kitaev followed with a 6-4 result at No. 2.

In singles, the Cardinals created separation across the lineup, winning five of six matches.

Sophomore Sanjan Shanker controlled the top spot with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles. Chilcote turned in a 6-2, 6-0 performance at No. 3, and Kitaev added a 6-0, 6-1 victory at No. 4.

Otterbein also came through in a pair of tight matches. Fickas dropped the opening set before closing out a 10-4 tiebreak at No. 2, and Reddy answered in similar fashion at No. 5, winning his third-set tiebreak 10-1.

Mount Union's point came at No. 6 singles.

Otterbein will travel to face Ohio Northern on Saturday, April 18 at Westwood Tennis Center in Lima, with first serve set for 11 a.m.